THEORETICAL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE FUNCTIONAL TESTS

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Abstract
Functional tests of hearing are usually relied on to differentiate obstructive from nervous conditions of the auditory apparatus. The criteria on which otolaryngologists base their diagnoses and quote almost as laws, briefly stated, are: 1. Nerve deafness is indicated whenever the ear senses the higher tones of the musical scale subnormally, and especially if the so-called limit of upper tone is lowered. 2. Obstructive deafness is indicated whenever the ear senses the high tones well but the lower tones with increasing difficulty as the scale descends, and especially if the so-called limit of lower tone is raised. 3. Bone conduction of shortened duration is taken to mean nerve deafness, whereas, if it is normal or lengthened actually (or even relatively), it is taken to denote obstructive deafness. The tests of Weber, Rinne, Schwabach and Gellé all involve bone conduction. I shall not, however, discuss bone conduction at this time.

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