What is the primary purpose of conducting a Weber test?

The Weber test is primarily used to evaluate hearing, particularly in differentiating between conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. During the test, a tuning fork is struck and placed on the midline of the forehead or on the top of the head. The patient is then asked where the sound is heard best—either on one side or equally in both ears.

When conductive hearing loss is present, the sound is perceived louder in the affected ear. This occurs because the conductive pathway, which includes the ear canal and middle ear structures, amplifies the sound when it is transmitted through bone conduction. In contrast, with sensorineural hearing loss, the sound will lateralize to the better-hearing ear.

Thus, the primary purpose of the Weber test is to diagnose hearing loss types, making it a crucial tool in the assessment of auditory function within the clinical setting. The other choices do not capture the specific focus of the Weber test in evaluating hearing capabilities.