Final answer:
The conductive loss in hearing during the Weber test is determined by placing a tuning fork at the top of the skull, and the sound of the tuning fork reaching both ears is used to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conductive loss in hearing during the Weber test is determined by placing a tuning fork at the top of the skull. The sound of the tuning fork reaches both inner ears by traveling through bone. In a healthy individual, the sound appears equally loud in both ears. However, with unilateral conductive hearing loss, the tuning fork sounds louder in the ear with hearing loss. This is because the background noise from the outer ear is blocked in the damaged ear, allowing the tuning fork to sound relatively louder in that ear.
Determining a conductive loss during the Weber test involves using a tuning fork to detect differences in hearing ability between ears. By placing the vibrating tuning fork on the top of the skull, the sound is transmitted via bone conduction to both inner ears. In the case of unilateral conductive hearing loss, the sound appears louder in the affected ear because the blockage of background noise makes the tuning fork's sound stand out more in that ear. Conversely, with sensorineural hearing loss, the tuning fork will sound quieter in the impaired ear due to damage to the cochlea or nervous tissue.