Conductive deafness is caused by a defect in the ear’s ability to conduct sound waves, resulting in muffled or distorted sounds. Earwax, foreign bodies, perforation of the eardrum, and blockage in the middle ear are common causes. Some cases can be treated, while others are permanent. Sensorineural deafness is caused by disruptions in the neural pathway to the brain.
Conductive deafness is hearing loss caused by some defect in the ear’s ability to conduct sound waves. Sounds become muffled or distorted due to a physical impediment in the outer, middle, or inner ear. In some cases, this impairment passes naturally or can be removed through treatment, but some cases of conductive deafness are permanent.
The ear works by carrying sound through the ear canal to the eardrum. Sounds cause the eardrum to vibrate, and these vibrations are transmitted along a series of bones called ossicles to the cochlea. The fluid inside the cochlea carries the vibrations and this movement is detected by tiny hairs. The movement of these hairs activates signals to the brain and the signals are perceived as sound.
In the case of conductive deafness, the vibration chain stops somewhere along the way. The vibrations can be disrupted in any part of the ear, causing partial hearing loss or total deafness. Any disruption along the neural pathway to the brain, or in the brain’s ability to translate the neural signal into meaningful sound, is termed “sensorineural deafness.”
Earwax is a common cause of conductive hearing loss affecting the outer ear. When the ear canal is blocked, sounds reach the eardrum with less intensity, resulting in a muffled sound. Foreign bodies in the ear canal produce similar results. This is one of the more easily treated forms of this condition.
Perforation or rupture of the eardrum can also cause conductive deafness. Without a properly functioning eardrum, there is no mechanism to vibrate the ossicles and carry sound to the cochlea. Surgery can sometimes repair damage to the eardrum, but in other cases the damage is permanent.
Blockage in the middle ear often takes the form of fluid that collects behind the eardrum, such as with an infection or otitis media. Pressure in the middle ear prevents the ossicles from moving freely. When the pressure can’t be reduced by other means, such as treating an infection with antibiotics, a stent may be needed to drain the fluid.
Other conditions can create solid blockages in the middle ear. Otosclerosis causes spongy bone to form on the ossicles, hindering movement. The extent of the growth determines the degree of hearing loss.
Incorrect pressure in the cochlea can also cause conductive deafness. A leak in the auger will drain the fluid essential in the transmission of vibrations. Excessive pressure, such as that created by inflammation of the inner ear, does not allow the fluid to move freely, again preventing vibration.
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