A bone conduction test is a type of hearing test that assesses how well sound travels through the bones of your skull to your inner ear.
During this test, an audiologist places a small device, called a bone vibrator, behind your ear or on your forehead. This device emits sounds that cause gentle vibrations in your skull. These vibrations bypass the outer and middle ear and directly stimulate the inner ear (cochlea). The audiologist then measures your response to these sounds.
The results of a bone conduction test, when compared to air conduction test results, help determine the type of hearing loss a person might have. If sound is heard better through bone conduction than air conduction, it may indicate a problem in the outer or middle ear.
In summary, a bone conduction test is a valuable diagnostic tool used to identify and differentiate between different types of hearing loss.
