How to Pronounce Hennebert's Sign
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Hennebert's Sign Pronunciation
HEN-eh-bairs SYN
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
HEN
stress here
eh
bairs SYN
3 syllables
What is Hennebert's Sign?
Vertigo and nystagmus induced by applying positive or negative pressure to the external ear canal (pushing or pulling on a tightly fitting speculum), indicating a labyrinthine fistula or abnormal connection between the middle and inner ear. It is different from the Tullio phenomenon (which is sound-induced).
Questions About Hennebert's Sign
How do you pronounce Hennebert's Sign?
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Hennebert's Sign is pronounced "HEN-eh-bairs SYN." The first part rhymes with "hen," the middle part sounds like "eh" (like the letter A), and the last part of the first word rhymes with "bears" or "chairs." The word "sign" is pronounced like the English word for a posted notice.
Which syllable is stressed when saying Hennebert's Sign?
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The stress falls on the first syllable: HEN-eh-bairs. Say it like "HEN" is the loudest and clearest part, then trail off slightly with "eh-bairs." A common mistake is stressing the middle syllable, but that's not correct.
How do you break Hennebert's Sign into syllables?
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Break it into four syllables: HEN-eh-bair-SYN. The first word has three syllables (HEN-eh-bair) and "Sign" is just one syllable by itself.
What is a common mispronunciation of Hennebert's Sign?
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People often say "hen-uh-BERTS" by stressing the wrong syllable, or they pronounce it "hen-uh-bert" by adding an extra vowel sound at the end of the first word. The correct way is to keep it as "HEN-eh-bairs" with the stress on the first syllable and a clear "z" sound in "bairs."
What does Hennebert's Sign mean in simple terms?
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Hennebert's Sign is a medical term that describes a specific physical finding—when a doctor applies pressure to the ear canal during an examination, it causes dizziness and eye movements. It's named after a doctor and is used as a name for what someone observes during a clinical test.
Who was Hennebert?
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Hennebert's Sign is named after a doctor or medical professional named Hennebert. In medical language, many observations and tests are named after the doctors who first described them, similar to how other signs and syndromes have doctors' names attached to them.
What is an easier way to remember how to say Hennebert's Sign?
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Think of it as "HEN" (the bird) plus "eh bears" (like the sound "eh" + the animal "bears"). So it sounds like you're saying a hen and then some bears, with the main stress on the hen part.
Is Hennebert's Sign ever shortened or abbreviated?
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In medical writing, it is sometimes shortened to just "Hennebert's" or written as "HS" in notes, but it's usually written out in full as Hennebert's Sign to be clear. When abbreviated as "HS," you would still say the whole phrase aloud.

