What Triggers Conductive Hearing Loss and What Can Individuals Do to Fix It?

Conductive hearing loss patients have difficulty hearing as a result of problem with their ear’s capacity to conduct sound waves. This type of hearing loss may come from a blockage in the ear canal, but it also may be due to a congenital absence or malformation in the ear. Several forms of conductive hearing loss are treatable, allowing the patient to enjoy normal hearing.

Congenital issues can be a cause of conductive hearing loss. Someone may have been born lacking an ear canal or the ear canal might not have opened correctly at birth. Malformation of inner ear components can inhibit optimal hearing. Surgery may correct some congenital issues. Others may be best treated with a hearing aid. Conductive hearing loss is not commonly a result of congenital issues; other causes are more probable.

Among the more frequent causes of conductive hearing loss is fluid or wax accumulation in the outer ear. This type of buildup (often caused by ear infections) can negatively impact a person’s hearing. Washing the ear can be sufficient to remove ear wax buildup, while antibiotics might be required to deal with an infection.

Conductive hearing loss can also be attributable to buildup in the middle ear. The most typical cause of this problem is the accumulation of fluid. Young children are particularly prone to ear infections, which are a common reason for this problem. Hearing can be affected by pressure on the inner ear caused by allergies or the common cold. Rarely conductive hearing loss can be the result of tumors in the middle ear.

Foreign bodies in the ear canal or perforated eardrums are other problems that can cause conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss primarily occurs on its own, however it can co-present with other forms of hearing loss. Consult with a hearing care specialist immediately if you experience any inexplicable hearing loss. In many cases complete hearing can be recovered with appropriate treatment.