Say what? Understanding 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.

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?

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.

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.