Diagnostic 2 Tuning Forks

Question 1

What are the benefits of tuning fork test?

Answer 1

Inexpensive, light & portable
Visible / Audible to significant other
Tells us type of loss

Question 2

What are the limitations of tuning fork test?

Answer 2

Limited to frequency of tuning fork
Unable to confirm degree of loss
Not good at picking up mixed loss
AB gap needs to be 17.5dBHL for conductive loss to be picked up

Question 3

What do you do first in a tuning fork test?

Answer 3

Establish better ear
- ask patient if they have better ear
- strike TF
- hold at both ears 2.5cm from ear canal for 2 secs

Question 4

What are the parts of a tuning fork? (6)

Answer 4

Tines
Footplate
Shoulder
Stem
Base
Acoustic axis

Question 5

What are the types of tuning fork test?

Answer 5

Weber

Rinne

Question 6

What is the procedure for the Weber tuning fork test?

Answer 6

Strike and hold the tuning for
Place onto centre of forehead
Counter pressure to patients head
Hold for 4 seconds
Ask where they heard the tone

Question 7

What are the possible results from weber tuning fork test?

Answer 7

If better ear was right

Central
- normal hearing
- sensorineural loss
- conductive loss or mixed

Right
- s/n in poorer ear
- better cochlea right

Left
- refers to poorer ear
- possible conductive loss in L ear

Question 8

What is the procedure for the Rinne tuning fork test?

Answer 8

• strike tuning fork
• hold at EAM for 2 secs (2.5cm away)
• without delay hold firmly at mastoid bone for 2 secs
• ask if louder in front of behind

Question 9

What are the outcomes of Rinne tuning fork test?

Answer 9

Positive
- patient heard better at EAM
- normal hearing or sensorineural loss

Negative
- if patient heard better at mastoid bone
- conductive loss

False negative
- heard in poorer ear due to contra lateralisation
- normally profound asymmetrical loss poor ear