In the Bing test, what response indicates normal hearing?

In the Bing test, a noticeable change in intensity with occlusion indicates normal hearing. This test assesses the patient's conductive hearing ability by occluding the ear canal and observing whether the perceived loudness of a sound changes as a result.

When a person with normal hearing plugs their ear (occludes), sound waves created by the tuning fork are prevented from escaping through the ear canal. This leads to an increase in perceived loudness due to bone conduction becoming more effective, as the sound cannot escape. Therefore, if a patient reports a noticeable change in intensity when the ear canal is occluded, it signifies that both air and bone conduction are functioning correctly, indicative of normal hearing.

Other responses may indicate varying levels of hearing impairment or conditions affecting the auditory system, but a significant change in intensity is a hallmark of a typical response for individuals with intact auditory functions.