Gelle test is performed in a patient suspected of having otosclerosis. With pneumatic pressure applied in the external canal while a tuning fork rests on the mastoid, the patient reports NO change in perceived loudness. This result indicates:

• A Normal stapes mobility (positive Gelle)
• B Fixation of the stapes footplate (negative Gelle) ✓
• C Profound sensorineural hearing loss
• D Eustachian tube obstruction

Explanation

Gelle test assesses stapes mobility. In a normal ear, raising canal air pressure pushes the footplate inward and reduces hearing, giving a positive test. When the stapes is fixed as in otosclerosis, pressure change produces no shift in loudness, a negative Gelle test. It has largely been replaced by tympanometry but remains a classic examination question on otosclerosis diagnosis.

Reference: Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.