Which test is used to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss?

The correct choice is the test that involves air and bone conduction. This method is fundamental in audiology for determining the type of hearing loss present in an individual.

Air conduction testing evaluates the entire auditory pathway, including the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and central auditory pathways. In contrast, bone conduction testing bypasses the outer and middle ear, directly stimulating the inner ear. By comparing the results from both air and bone conduction testing, clinicians can identify whether hearing loss is conductive, sensorineural, or mixed.

If air conduction results show a hearing loss, but bone conduction results are normal, this indicates conductive hearing loss, which typically arises from issues in the outer or middle ear—like earwax blockage or fluid in the middle ear. Conversely, if both air and bone conduction tests indicate hearing loss, this suggests a sensorineural hearing loss, which relates to damage in the inner ear or auditory nerve pathways.

Other tests, such as the speech recognition threshold, auditory brainstem response, and otoacoustic emissions, provide valuable insights into hearing function but do not directly compare the conduction pathways to distinguish the specific type of hearing loss as effectively as air and bone conduction testing does.