Conductive Hearing Loss: What Causes It, Symptoms & Treatment

Conductive hearing loss is present when sound does not reach the inner ear through the outer or middle ear effectively. Unlike other forms of hearing loss, this was typically temporary, and sometimes treatable with medical or surgical intervention.

What Causes Conductive Hearing Loss?

A conductive hearing impairment develops when something prevents sound waves from reaching the inner ear through the outer ear canal and middle ear structures. The kind of loss occurs as a temporary condition that receives treatment through medications and minor surgical procedures. There are several common factors that can cause this condition:

1. Buildup of Earwax

Why Earwax Accumulates

The normal human body produces Earwax (cerumen) as a protective and lubricating substance in the ears. The amount of earwax sometimes exceeds normal levels in some cases when individuals have narrow ear canals, wear hearing aids or earbuds or when they clean their ears wrong and push wax further inside.

How to Treat It

Trivial earwax accumulation can be resolved naturally, but if it’s affecting auditory performance or causing irritation, it may be removed with at-home ear drops, warm water irrigation, or a professional clean by a health care provider.

2. Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infections)

What Happens in Infection

The middle ear encounters infection or inflammation known as otitis media when bacterial or viral agents invade it. It frequently comes after a cold or respiratory infection. Fluid builds up in the middle ear, disrupting the normal flow of sound vibrations from ear to ear.

Treatment Options

Acute otitis media usually clears up with antibiotics, or over-the-counter pain relievers. If infections are recurrent or fluid is present in the ear for long periods, doctors may need to surgically put in tympanostomy tubes to drain fluid and prevent recurrent disease.

3. Perforated Eardrum

What common causes that could perforate the eardrum?

The thin membrane which separates the outer from the middle ear develops perforations or tears when it is named a perforated eardrum. A perforated eardrum forms when people experience loud noises, air pressure changes during flights or suffer from injuries to their head and untreated ear infections.

Recovery and Management

Most small tears heal on their own within a few weeks. You should avoid water exposure and further trauma during recovery. An ENT specialist may often recommend surgical repair (tympanoplasty) for larger perforations.

4. Abnormalities in the Ossicles (Tiny Ear Bones)

Ossicular condition

The middle ear contains essential positive-energy bones called ossicles together with the malleus and incus and stapes which enable sound transmission. Hearing loss may occur due to abnormal bone growth through otosclerosis together with trauma or congenital disorders which prevent the movement of these bones.

Available Treatments

Treatment can vary depending on the underlying cause and may include fitting hearing aids to amplify sound, or surgical options like ossiculoplasty or stapedectomy to repair or replace the affected bones and restore hearing function.

It could be benign tumors, congenital malformations

Essentially, anything that blocks sound from getting to the inner ear — or something structurally wrong with it — will cause this kind of hearing problem.

And there are other potential causes, including fluid accumulation in the middle ear (which can happen after colds or allergies), foreign bodies in the ear canal or Eustachian tube dysfunction. These problems are especially prevalent in children and individuals who suffer from recurrent sinus infections.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Some key warning signs to look out for:

• Sounds seem muffled or softer.
• Struggling to comprehend conversations, particularly in noisy environments.
• It is hard to hear your own voice (mostly now you can), it seems to sound louder than ever.
• Difficulty hearing on phone calls.

Consult a hearing specialist immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. Ignoring symptoms, however, could result in complications like permanent hearing damage or chronic ear infections.

How Is It Diagnosed?

This condition can be identified with a professional hearing test, like an audiogram. An ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist might also perform a physical examination and tympanometry to make sure of the diagnosis. Imaging studies such as a CT scan of the head may be performed in select cases to look for abnormalities of the bones of the middle ear or to identify tumors.

Conductive vs Sensorineural Hearing Loss Comparison

What If I Have Mixed Hearing Loss? 

Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, so they usually require a treated hearing loss treatment plan.

Treatment Options

Depending on the underlying cause, treatment can include:

• Removing impacted earwax
• Antibiotic tablets or other medicines to fight infections
• Surgical treatment for structural abnormalities such as a perforated eardrum
• Hearing aids to amplify sound

Most cases of conductive hearing loss can be treated or treated completely with timely medical intervention.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Ages of life: Ear infections are common in children.

Ages of Adults: Neurofibromas may occur due to trauma or ear tumors.

The most common triggers? Tissue buildup and frequent infections.

To lower your risk, keep your ears clean (but do not insert cotton swabs far into your ears), promptly treat colds and allergies, and consult a physician at the first sign of earache or changes in your hearing.

Conclusion

Conductive hearing loss is among the most treatable hearing impairment types if caught early. Effective treatment is available, whether it is from a blockage, infection or structural problem. Don’t ignore the signs - schedule your consultation today.

Data Preparedness Call us at 01711-636214 for a hearing check up Audit.

FAQs

1. Is this type of hearing loss permanent?

No it can be transient and manageable depending on the underlying cause.

2. Can hearing aids help?

Yes, particularly for that condition to improve the delivery of sound.

3. What is the most common cause of conductive hearing loss?

Earwax accumulation in the ear canal represents the primary reason behind conductive hearing loss in people. Other frequent causes include:

• Middle ear infections (otitis media)
• Fluid in the middle ear (common in children)
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the middle ear)
• Perforated eardrum
• Foreign objects in the ear canal

4. How do you treat conductive hearing loss?

Treatment depends on the cause. Common treatments include:

• Medical professionals should perform earwax removal treatment through irrigation suction and specialized tools.
• Doctors will prescribe medicines that treat infections when medical assessment reveals bacterial or fungal infections in the middle ear.
• The surgical intervention applies for patients who need treatment for both perforated eardrums and middle ear bone problems.
• Tympanostomy tubes serve to drain fluid from the eardrum most often in child patients.
• Medically uncorrectable hearing loss requires people to use hearing aids as an additional treatment.