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Say what? Understanding conductive hearing loss

When the cause of your hearing loss stems from your outer or middle ear, you’re dealing with conductive hearing loss. Whether genetics, noise exposure, or other factors are to blame, there are ways to to deal with and treat the symptoms of your hearing loss.
Causes, symptoms and treatment

What causes conductive hearing loss?

Often it is just a matter of too much wax. It also might be that you have fluids in the middle ear that don’t allow the eardrum to move. It could also be a cyst, tumor, or “foreign object,” i.e., a bug that’s gotten stuck in your ear. It is important that you visit your doctor to find out the cause.

Symptoms of conductive hearing loss

Does your hearing sound muffled? Are you experiencing dizziness or pain in your ears? Some quiet sounds might have just disappeared, seemingly on mute. Perhaps there is some fluid drainage from the ear or that odd feeling that your ears are stuffy?
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More about symptoms

Treating conductive hearing loss

Since this kind of hearing loss takes part in the outer or middle ear, a simple build-up of earwax is  often the cause. Medicine or surgery can also correct any further problems, such as cysts, tumors or infections that may be causing the issue. Hearing aids can also help. In particular, bone conduction hearing aids, which actually shake those little bones in your ear back into action, may be a fitting solution.
Learn more about treatment
Next best action

Time to call the doctor

With outer ear problems, you should never try to help yourself. That includes never sticking anything in your ear. Seek medical assistance to determine what may be causing your hearing loss—whether it’s an illness, foreign object or something more serious. Cases of permanent hearing loss can best be managed with hearing aids.

Conductive hearing loss: FAQ

Is conductive hearing loss permanent?

Is conductive hearing loss serious?

How can you test for conductive hearing loss?

What is a Rinne test?

What is the difference between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss?

Do hearing aids help conductive hearing loss?

How is conductive hearing loss represented on an audiogram?

What does conductive hearing loss feel like?

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