Weber's Test
March 3rd, 2023
Overview
The Weber test uses conduction of sound via the forehead to determine the nature of a patient's hearing loss.
How to Elicit
- Place a 256hz tuning fork onto the centre of the patient's forehead, and ask whether they can hear the vibration. If heard, ask on which side the vibration is louder.
Interpretation
- Symmetrical - normal hearing
- Louder in deaf ear - conductive hearing loss
- Louder in normal ear - sensorineural hearing loss
Causes of Hearing Loss
Conductive
- External auditory canal - wax, foreign body, tumour, otitis externa
- Middle ear - perforated eardrum, otitis media, otosclerosis
Sensorineural
- Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss)
- Trauma - noise trauma
- Inflammation - meningitis, encephalitis, SLE, giant cell arteritis
- Ototoxicity - gentamicin, frusemide, cisplatin
- Tumour - acoustic neuroma, meningioma, SCC, metastasis
- Idiopathic - Meniere's disease
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