Assess hearing with the whispered voice test. Ask the patient to repeat numbers whispered into one ear while blocking or rubbing your fingers next to the contralateral ear.

If hearing loss is present, determine if the loss is conductive, from impaired "air through ear" transmission, or sensorineural, from damage to the cochlear branch of CN VIII. Test for air and bone conduction, using the Rinne test, and lateralization, using the Weber test.

Specific tests of the vestibular function of CN VIII are rarely included in the typical neurologic examination. Consult textbooks of neurology or otolaryngology as the need arises.

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