What is a common cause of conductive hearing loss?

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being transmitted efficiently to the inner ear. This can happen due to various reasons, but one of the most common causes is the buildup of earwax or fluid in the middle ear.

Earwax can accumulate and block the ear canal, preventing sound waves from reaching the eardrum. Similarly, fluid in the middle ear, often the result of infections or allergic reactions, can disrupt the normal functioning of the ossicles (the tiny bones in the middle ear) which transmit sound to the inner ear. Thus, addressing earwax build-up or fluid presence typically leads to improvements in hearing.

In contrast, injury to the inner ear primarily affects sensory processing of sound, age-related degeneration leads to sensorineural hearing loss, and exposure to loud noise causes damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, which are also associated with sensorineural hearing loss. These conditions do not specifically relate to the mechanical issues involved in conductive hearing loss.