What is a common cause of conductive hearing loss?

The answer is fluid in the middle ear, which is a well-known cause of conductive hearing loss. This condition occurs when sound waves are not effectively conducted through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear. Fluid in the middle ear can create a blockage that prevents sound from efficiently passing through. This can happen due to infections like otitis media, where inflammation leads to fluid buildup, or due to the presence of other medical conditions that cause fluid retention.

Conductive hearing loss generally results from issues that affect the mechanical parts of the ear, which is exactly what fluid in the middle ear does. The presence of fluid makes it difficult for sound waves to travel from the eardrum to the inner ear, leading to a reduction in hearing ability.

While noise exposure and aging are associated with sensorineural hearing loss, which affects the inner ear and auditory nerve, earwax buildup typically leads to a blockage in the ear canal, causing temporary conductive hearing loss but is often not a chronic issue like fluid accumulation.