In left-ear conductive hearing loss, which Rinne test result would be expected?

• A. Air conduction longer than bone conduction in the left ear
• B. Bone conduction longer than air conduction in the left ear
• C. Air conduction longer than bone conduction in the right ear
• D. Bone conduction longer than air conduction in the right ear

Answer: (B)

Rinne testing compares how sound travels through air versus through bone to the inner ear. In a normal ear, air conduction is heard longer than bone conduction because the outer and middle ear efficiently transmit sound to the inner ear. In conductive hearing loss, the problem lies in the outer or middle ear, reducing air conduction, while bone conduction can still reach the inner ear. So on the affected side, bone conduction will be heard longer than air conduction, making the Rinne test negative on that side. For a left-ear conductive loss, you’d expect bone conduction to be heard longer than air conduction in the left ear. The right ear would typically show a normal result, with air conduction longer than bone conduction.