Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss occurs when sounds cannot travel down the ear canal and pass through into the middle ear. This type of hearing loss may be temporary or permanent depending on the cause.
Symptoms
- Muffled hearing
- Ear wax build up
- Sudden hearing loss
- Ear infection
- Fluid in the ear
- Pain or tenderness
- Perforated eardrum
- Disease such as Otosclerosis
Causes
- Ear wax blockage
- Outer ear infection (Otitis Externa)
- A perforated ear drum
- Problems with the three small bones in the middle ear
- Fluid in the middle or inner ear
- A ruptured eardrum
Treatments
- Sometimes conductive hearing loss will resolve on its own.
- Antibiotics or antifungal treatments for an ear infection.
- A perforated eardrum may repair itself within 2–3 months.
- Tympanoplasty surgery may be needed to repair a larger ruptured eardrum.
- Hearing aids may be recommended if hearing loss persists.
FAQs
The most common cause is ear wax build up, which can often be treated with microsuction removal.
Many causes are temporary and hearing returns after treatment.
Yes, ear wax is one of the most common temporary causes of conductive hearing loss.
Yes. Infections such as Otitis Externa, Acute Otitis Media (AOM), Otitis Media with Effusion (OME/glue ear), or fungal infections can cause temporary hearing loss.
Yes, tinnitus can occur. It often resolves after treatment such as microsuction or antibiotics.
Duration depends on the underlying cause. Some conditions resolve within days, others may take months or require intervention.
