Which is true about air conduction vs. bone conduction testing?

Testing air conduction provides valuable information about an individual's overall hearing ability and can indicate both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Air conduction testing evaluates the entire auditory pathway, which includes the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and auditory pathways to the brain. As a result, if air conduction thresholds are poorer than normal, it may suggest a conductive hearing loss if there is an obstruction or damage in the outer or middle ear. Alternatively, it could also indicate sensorineural loss if the issue resides in the inner ear or auditory pathways.

Conversely, bone conduction testing primarily assesses the function of the inner ear and beyond without the influence of the outer or middle ear. If bone conduction results are better than air conduction, it indicates a conductive component; if they are equally poor, it suggests a sensorineural hearing loss.

Therefore, air conduction testing is comprehensive and can capture both types of hearing loss, making it essential for diagnosing hearing impairments effectively.