What does a positive Rinne test indicate?

A positive Rinne test indicates that air conduction is better than bone conduction in normal hearing. In this clinical test, a tuning fork is struck and placed alternately at the mastoid bone (to test bone conduction) and near the ear canal (to test air conduction). In individuals with normal hearing or sensorineural hearing loss, the sound will be heard longer or louder through air conduction compared to bone conduction. This is because the bones of the skull do not transmit sound as effectively as the outer and middle ear structures when they are functioning properly.

In cases of conductive hearing loss, bone conduction will be equal to or better than air conduction, resulting in a negative Rinne test. Therefore, the ability to determine that air conduction is superior is a key indicator of normal hearing function within the auditory system. Understanding this helps differentiate between types of hearing loss and guides appropriate management.