An individual who suffers from conductive hearing loss has trouble hearing due to a problem in their ear’s ability to conduct sound waves. This can happen because of a congenital absence or malformation of the ear or as a result of a blockage in the ear canal.
Quite a few varieties of conductive hearing loss are treatable, enabling the individual to enjoy a normal level of hearing.
Many congenital issues can cause conductive hearing loss. An individual can be born lacking an ear canal or the canal might not have opened correctly at birth. Malformation of inner ear components can hinder proper hearing. Some of these congenital problems can be addressed via surgery. The ones that can’t may be remedied with hearing aids. Conductive hearing loss due to congenital issues is less frequent than other causes.
Among the more typical causes of conductive hearing loss is wax or fluid buildup in the outer ear. This type of buildup (commonly a result of ear infections) can adversely affect a person’s ability to hear. Ear infections are often treated with prescription antibiotics while washing the ear might be sufficient in removing the wax buildup.
Middle ear accumulation can also trigger conductive hearing loss. The most frequent cause of this issue is the accumulation of fluid. Ear infections are a common cause of this problem, especially in children. Sinus pressure from allergies or the common cold can exert pressure on the middle ear, decreasing a person’s ability to hear. In rare situations conductive hearing loss can be caused by tumors in the middle ear.
Conductive hearing loss can be due to other problems, such as a perforated eardrum or the presence of a foreign body in the ear canal. This variety of hearing loss can occur by itself, but it may also occur in addition to hearing loss due to noise damage. If you or a loved one are experiencing unexplained hearing loss, talk to a hearing care specialist promptly. In many cases complete hearing can be recovered with proper treatment.