Final answer:
The piece of equipment used for the Weber test and Rinne test is a tuning fork. In the Rinne test, the tuning fork is placed on the mastoid process and then next to the ear canal to test conduction. In the Weber test, the tuning fork is placed on the top of the skull to determine hearing loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The piece of equipment used to perform the Weber test and Rinne test is a tuning fork.
In the Rinne test, a vibrating tuning fork is placed on the mastoid process and the patient indicates when the sound is no longer present. Then, the fork is moved next to the ear canal to test conduction through the air. If the sound is not heard through the ear, a conductive hearing deficit is present.
In the Weber test, the tuning fork is placed at the top of the skull. In a healthy patient, the sound would appear equally loud in both ears. With unilateral conductive hearing loss, the tuning fork sounds louder in the ear with hearing loss, while with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the tuning fork sounds quieter in that ear.