In sensorineural hearing loss, weber’s test is lateralized to
**Core Concept**
Sensorineural hearing loss is a type of hearing impairment that affects the inner ear or the auditory nerve. It is characterized by a loss of sound perception due to damage to the hair cells or the auditory nerve. Weber's test is a clinical tool used to assess lateralization of sound, which can help differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
In sensorineural hearing loss, the affected ear has a reduced ability to perceive sound due to damage to the hair cells or the auditory nerve. When a sound is presented to the affected ear via Weber's test, the sound is perceived as louder in the unaffected ear, leading to lateralization to the unaffected ear. This is because the unaffected ear is able to perceive the sound more clearly, while the affected ear is unable to process the sound properly. The mechanism of lateralization in Weber's test relies on the intact ability of the unaffected ear to perceive sound, while the affected ear is unable to do so.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because Weber's test lateralizes to the unaffected ear in sensorineural hearing loss, not the affected ear.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because it is a distractor and does not accurately describe the lateralization of Weber's test in sensorineural hearing loss.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because it is a distractor and does not accurately describe the lateralization of Weber's test in sensorineural hearing loss.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
In sensorineural hearing loss, Weber's test is a useful tool for differentiating between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. A lateralization to the unaffected ear suggests sensorineural hearing loss, while a lateralization to the affected ear suggests conductive hearing loss.
**Correct Answer:** C