Dirty Medicine

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Weber vs. Rinne Test & Conductive vs. Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Video Overview & Insights

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i hate this concept so bad

— @aexylili

My goal is to reduce educational disparities by making education FREE.

These videos help you score extra points on medical school exams (USMLE, COMLEX, etc.)

“

Great explanation ❤

— @nyawirawaithaka4993

For educational purposes only; NOT medical or other advice.

Some videos contain mild profanity and hyperbole solely used to assist with memorization. Viewer discretion advised.

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Thank you!!!!

— @kya5119

Opinions are entirely my own.

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Wow this video was super well done and I feel as though I know everything about both these test just from this short 5 minute presentation. thanks!

— @whatdidezradotoday_6754

More User Perspectives

very easy explanation

@leyleyley1-q1f

The best explanation ever

@zahra_hassan

Thank youuuuuuu

@Satedjoy

You’re the G.O.A.T

@jonathansagoe9747

Great!!!
I don’t think i will ever forget this!
Rennie under the pinne (chl)
And weber side is normal (SNHL)

Really great
Thank you

@emanshaltawil7510

No contradiction at all.
Sound waves propagate faster and with less attenuation in solids than in air — that's pure physics.
But in hearing, the issue is not propagation speed — it's how efficiently the tiny amount of energy from a sound wave carries in air gets transferred to the cochlea (which is fluid-filled).
The middle ear (tympanic membrane + ossicles) acts as an impedance-matching transformer:
Area ratio (tympanic membrane to oval window) ≈ 17:1
Ossicular lever ratio ≈ 1.3:1
Total pressure gain ≈ 22–30 dB (some textbooks say up to 34 dB)
This means the normal ear delivers 15–30 times more energy to the cochlea via air conduction than would be possible without the middle ear.
Bone conduction bypasses this amplifier completely. You have to shake the entire skull to move the cochlear fluids, which requires much more energy than moving the tiny, lightweight eardrum + ossicles.
So in normal hearing: air conduction > bone conduction (Rinne positive, AC threshold equal or better than BC).
Only when the middle ear is damaged (conductive loss) does bone conduction become relatively "better".

@muhammadizazullah6715

How are all your videos so helpful?!

@helenahalasz9775

Great explanation!

@Jaya_da05

oh god! I just learned from chat gpt within a min. you've helped so much tho! Conductive hearing loss is caused by any obstruction in canal or middle ear hence bone conduction is better. THIS LINE IS GOLD. No need any mnemonic or something. 💪🏼

@crowned.for.real.life1

Guys ik this isnt dirty level but here is a way to remember,

Sensorineu-AC>BC,WBR- Loca on opp side
(SAOP(soap)-sensorineu,AC,opp side)

Conductive-BC>AC,WBR-Loca on same side
(CBC news-conductive,BC,c(s)ame side)

@shanmukhsai2408

❤❤❤😊

@BenadiBawanya

By far the best video on this! Thank you!

@jigglyjigz

Dude WTF?! Phenomenal! 👍

@terencemark5410

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@BabalKhan-dc3jp

you did what amboss failed to do haha excellent!

@XYZ-gh2jh

you explained this so simply, thank you very much I feel I finally understand these tests!

@morimo_chan248

10/10

@busraaraz4218

thank you!

@tiffanyhernandez5329

OMG you made it really really simple
Thank you so much 🩷🩷

@Kiki-hv9qc

🙏🏻❤️

@Drnikitatanwar

thank you

@maciejkamil

This was so unbelievably helpful thank you!!!

@MiaDebany

Omg thank u 😔😔😭

@shfc5463

I'm wondering if you have sensorineural hearing loss are you going to hear anything at all in rinnes test. Like your nerves are gone how is rinnes test normal in an ear with sensorineural loss. How will you hear anything?

@timothychristopher6683

I mean this so sincerely - you are the reason I am surviving medical school! Thank you!

@KaylaByrne-x2l

Thank you! So simple.

@AhmedMus-ih8di

7 years old and still you are the best @Dirty!

@aylint-o4d

Wow! I am clutching this high yield concept with 3 days left as I take the Philippine National Licensure Examination (PNLE). Very helpful. I will comeback to this once I passed my exam! :)

@iyanel06

thanks alot

@PakGaming-360

Thank you very much!!! may God bless you!

@Alex-t4-K9l

Clear, concise and relevant as always tyvm !

@Luchaux

thanks man

@yougle101

Wowww

@Haniah_rehman

Thank you bro

@3li74

Great concise explanation!

@tokki8070

This video saved my life ❤

@hananalkentar6435

"High yield"? Yeah, right.
Frequently asked. That´s all you need to know, people.

@Cukito4

Thank youuuu!! This is the first time these tests have made sense to me.

@SaraH-r2d7i

Duude , this was peerfect

@nouhahassam3667

Excellent break down and then a bonus with mnemonics.😃

@Ms.Classic01

Bro just summarized 2 hour lecture practical in 5 minutes 💀. Thank you Doc 🫡

@certifiedreadr

an FYI for anyone else who struggled with this: An ABNORMAL Rinne Test (BC>AC) is NEGATIVE, and a NORMAL Rinne Test (AC>BC) is POSITIVE. That fact both confused and pissed me right the fuck off.

Also for those like me who didn't get this, sensorineural means inner ear and conductive means middle ear.

Also Weber says which side hears the sound the loudest, so if sensorineural then weber will lateralize to the good ear, but it will lateralize to the bad ear with conductive hearing loss (BC>AC) because for some reason lol physiology

CONFUSING-ASS-TOPIC

@Dr.SheepDO

Thank you so much, I have no idea why the so-called expert professors at my med school can't explain this concept in an easy-to-follow way like you just did.

@rnhim2072

Thanks for this video, I've struggled with understanding Rinne vs Weber and this video was really helpful.

@graceagbakwuru2827

Best video for revision

@TatungHabung

#USMLE #COMLEX #Step #Boards #Mnemonics #High #Yield #DirtyUSMLE #weber test #rinne test #conductive hearing loss #sensorineural hearing loss #air bone conduction