When documenting Rinne test results for a patient with normal hearing, what is typically recorded?

In a Rinne test performed to assess hearing, the results for a patient with normal hearing are typically recorded as air conduction (AC) being greater than bone conduction (BC). This means that the sound is heard through air (via the ear canal) more clearly and for a longer duration than through bone conduction (via the mastoid process).

This finding supports the concept that in individuals with normal hearing, the conductive pathway (air conduction) is more efficient than the vibratory sound transmitted through bone. In normal hearing, a positive Rinne test will therefore show AC > BC, which indicates that there is no significant conductive hearing loss.

Understanding these results is crucial for audiological assessments and helps professionals identify and differentiate types of hearing loss, reinforcing the importance of accurate recording in patient documentation.