Conductive hearing loss occurs when the passage of sound is blocked in either the ear canal or in the middle ear.

The passage of sound may be blocked due to blockages or damaged anatomical structures in the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear.

People with conductive hearing loss have sound levels reduced on the way to the cochlea in the inner ear.

Conductive hearing loss can be caused by the following factors:

• Accumulation of ear wax within the ear canal
• Many episodes of middle ear infection (otitis media)
• Chronic infection
• A growth in the middle ear (cholesteatoma)
• An abnormal bone growth near the middle ear (otosclerosis)

People with conductive hearing loss will find soft sounds difficult to hear at all pitches, both low and high.

There are several types of conductive hearing loss.

Some types of conductive hearing loss can be corrected with hearing aids. If the Corti organ in the cochlea functions normally, hearing aids can help transmit sound in in the outer or middle ear.

Other types of conductive hearing loss can be treated medically or surgically.

However, medical procedures may not fully reverse the conductive loss. Therefore, people with conductive hearing loss can often benefit from a hearing aid.