In the Weber test, if a child has conductive hearing loss in the left ear, where will the sound lateralize?

In the Weber test, sound lateralization can help differentiate between types of hearing loss. When a child has conductive hearing loss in one ear, sound will lateralize to that affected ear. This occurs because, in conductive hearing loss, there is an issue with the transmission of sound through the outer or middle ear, leading to reduced perception of sound in that ear.

As a result, the sound is heard louder in the ear with the conductive loss (left ear, in this case) since the intact ear (right ear) hears the sound normally and the affected ear amplifies the perceived loudness. Thus, if a child has conductive hearing loss in the left ear, the sound will lateralize to the left ear during the Weber test.

This phenomenon contrasts with sensorineural hearing loss, where sound typically lateralizes to the unaffected side. Understanding this difference is essential for properly assessing and diagnosing hearing loss in children.