What is the correct procedure for conducting a Weber test?

The Weber test is designed to assess hearing loss and differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss using the principle of bone conduction. The correct procedure involves placing a vibrating tuning fork on the top of the client's head. When the tuning fork is placed in this location, the vibrations travel directly through the bones of the skull, allowing the sound to be perceived equally by both ears if hearing is normal.

The outcome of the test can reveal abnormalities in hearing based on the responses from each ear. If the sound lateralizes to one ear, it may indicate either conductive hearing loss in that ear or sensorineural hearing loss in the opposite ear. This method is efficient because it allows the examiner to determine the relative hearing ability of each ear without the influence of external air conduction.

Placement on the abdomen or directly on the ear does not serve the purpose of the Weber test, as those methods would not effectively isolate bone conduction in the same way as placing the tuning fork on the head. Conducting the test while the client is lying down may affect the results by altering the way sound is perceived through the skull. Thus, positioning the tuning fork correctly is crucial for the validity of the test results.