Condition guide
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss explained — outer- and middle-ear causes, why it is often treatable, and how it is evaluated in Harrison and Somers, NY.
Frame: Hearing loss condition guide
Read time: 5 min read
Byline: Audiology Associates of Westchester
Reviewed by: Reviewed by the Audiology Associates of Westchester clinical team
Conductive hearing loss happens when something keeps sound from passing efficiently through the outer or middle ear to the inner ear. Sounds seem muffled or quiet, as if your ears are plugged. Unlike sensorineural loss, conductive loss is frequently treatable — and sometimes fully reversible.
Common causes
“Conductive hearing loss is a blockage of sound in the outer or middle ear — and unlike most hearing loss, it is often reversible.”
Earwax buildup, fluid or infection in the middle ear, a perforated eardrum, otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth), or a problem with the tiny middle-ear bones can all block sound. In children, middle-ear fluid is especially common.
What it feels like
People often describe fullness or pressure, their own voice sounding louder or hollow, and speech that is soft but not necessarily unclear once it is loud enough. Symptoms may come and go if the cause is fluid or wax.
How it is evaluated
An ear examination plus a hearing test and middle-ear (tympanometry) testing show whether sound is being blocked and where. This helps separate a conductive problem from an inner-ear one — and points to whether medical treatment, cerumen management, or a device is the right path.
How it is managed
Because the issue is a blockage, treatment targets the cause: removing wax, treating an infection, or a medical or surgical referral when appropriate. When a conductive component is permanent, hearing aids or other devices can help.
When to move faster
Seek prompt medical care for sudden hearing loss, hearing loss in one ear, severe dizziness, drainage or bleeding, significant ear pain, facial weakness, or tinnitus that pulses with your heartbeat. Educational information cannot diagnose an individual ear.
A practical next step
