Final answer:
The 2. Weber and Rinne tests are traditional methods used to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. The Weber test involves using a tuning fork placed on top of the skull, while the Rinne test compares air and bone conduction of sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identification of Hearing Loss Type
The 2. Weber test and the Rinne test are both utilized to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. In the Weber test, a tuning fork is placed on top of the skull to assess sound perception in both ears.
If sound is perceived louder in one ear, it can indicate either conductive hearing loss in the louder ear or sensorineural hearing loss in the opposite ear.
The Rinne test compares air conduction (when the tuning fork is held next to the ear canal) to bone conduction (when the tuning fork is placed on the mastoid bone behind the ear).
If bone conduction is heard longer than air conduction, conductive hearing loss is indicated. Tympanometry is another test that assesses the function of the middle ear by evaluating the eardrum's response to changes in pressure, which can help identify conductive hearing issues.
Electrocochleography assesses the electrical potentials generated in the inner ear in response to sound stimulation and is more commonly used for diagnosing disorders of the inner ear rather than distinguishing between types of hearing loss.