Cranial Nerves 8b: Test of Lateralisation (Weber)

  • Use a 512 Hz or 1024 Hz (short) tuning fork. (Not 128 Hz (long) which is for peripheral neuropathy testing).
  • Start the fork vibrating by tapping it on your opposite hand or patella hammer.
  • Place the base of the tuning fork firmly on the patient's forehead.
  • Ask the patient where the sound appears to be coming from (normally in the midline).
  • If the sound is louder on one side, interpretation of which side is abnormal relies on performing Rinne's test.
  • It will be louder on the side which in normal if there is sensorineural deafness on one side.
  • It will be louder on the deaf side when there is unilateral conductive deafness.
 
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5th Cranial Nerve
Trigeminal
Test of laterisation
(Weber)