Conductive Hearing Loss

In conductive hearing loss, disorders in either the outer or middle ear prevent sound from passing into the inner ear. Voices and sounds may sound faint, distorted, or both. Conductive hearing losses are most often seen in young children, but they can also be seen in some adults. Most conductive hearing loss can be improved medically or surgically if treated promptly.

Causes of conductive hearing loss include:

• Infection of the ear canal or middle ear
• Fluid in the middle ear
• Perforation or scarring of the eardrum
• Ear wax (cerumen) build-up
• Dislocation of the three middle-ear bones, called ossicles
• Foreign objects in the ear canal
• Otosclerosis (abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear)
• Unusual growths in the outer or middle ear