In pure tone audiometry, air-bone gap greater than 10 dB indicates:
- A Sensorineural hearing loss with cochlear pathology
- B Conductive hearing loss with a functional middle ear or outer ear problem ✓
- C Mixed hearing loss regardless of bone conduction threshold
- D Non-organic (functional) hearing loss
Correct answer: B. Conductive hearing loss with a functional middle ear or outer ear problem
Explanation
The air-bone gap (ABG) is the difference between air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) thresholds. An ABG >10 dB indicates that sound transmission via the air conduction pathway (through the external canal and middle ear) is worse than via the bone conduction pathway (which bypasses the middle ear and directly stimulates the cochlea). This implies a conductive component — either outer ear or middle ear pathology. In pure SNHL, AC and BC thresholds are both elevated equally, with no ABG. ABG >10 dB with elevated BC represents mixed hearing loss.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.