What is the purpose of the Rinne test?

The Rinne test is specifically designed to evaluate a person's hearing by comparing bone conduction and air conduction. During the test, a tuning fork is struck and placed on the mastoid bone behind the ear to assess how sound is transmitted through bone. Then, the tuning fork is moved to in front of the ear canal to test how sound is perceived through the air.

A key aspect of this test is the distinction it makes between the two types of sound conduction. Normally, air conduction should be greater than bone conduction in healthy individuals. If bone conduction is heard for a longer time than air conduction, it may indicate a conductive hearing loss. Therefore, the Rinne test provides crucial information about the state of a person's hearing mechanism, helping to identify issues related to either the outer and middle ear or the inner ear.