The Weber test is a test of lateralization and is most useful in those with asymmetrical hearing loss. The inner ear is more sensitive to sound via air conduction than bone conduction (in other words, air conduction is better than bone conduction).

Why does Weber test localize to affected ear?

This finding is because the conduction problem of the middle ear (incus, malleus, stapes, and external auditory meatus) masks the ambient noise of the room, while the well-functioning inner ear (cochlea with its basilar membrane) picks the sound up via the bones of the skull, causing it to be perceived as a louder ...

What does lateralization of hearing mean?

When sounds are presented by headphones, the sounds sound as if they originate within the head. Localizing sounds within the head is called lateralization; localizing sounds that appear to come from outside the head is called localization. ... The sounds that you will hear consist of one of two frequencies.