A Clear Guide to Conductive Hearing Loss
Expert Treatment for Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is frequently caused by changes in the outer or middle ear, such as fluid build-up, infection, or blockage, and is often reversible. That said, rapid hearing changes, persistent pain, ear discharge, facial weakness, dizziness, or symptoms following injury should be urgently reviewed by audiovestibular medicine to exclude complications and ensure safety.
Sound Pathway Issues
An Overview of Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is unable to travel efficiently through the outer or middle ear. Rather than a problem with the hearing nerve, sound is reduced or blocked before it reaches the inner ear. This commonly leads to muffled hearing, reduced loudness, or a sensation of fullness or blockage, sometimes affecting one ear more than the other.
This type of hearing loss is often linked to middle ear fluid, ear infections, earwax build-up, eardrum problems, or changes in the small hearing bones. In many cases, it is temporary and treatable. Because the inner ear usually functions normally, hearing often improves once the underlying cause is identified and addressed.
Pinpointing the Cause
Diagnosing Conductive Hearing Loss
When to Get Checked
Conductive hearing loss is often straightforward to manage, but certain symptoms need timely medical review to ensure nothing more serious is missed.
You should be assessed if hearing loss develops suddenly, worsens quickly, affects one ear only, or is accompanied by ear pain, discharge, fever, dizziness, facial weakness, or headache. Hearing changes after head injury, surgery, or infection, or symptoms that do not improve, should also prompt review.
How We Assess Conductive Hearing Loss
Our physicians at Harley AVM begin with a careful clinical discussion to understand how hearing feels blocked, when symptoms start, and whether pain, pressure, infections, or previous ear problems are involved. We analyse how hearing changes affect daily communication and identify clues pointing to outer or middle ear causes.
Pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex threshold measurement, eustachian tube function testing, otoacoustic emissions, speech audiometry, and speech-in-noise tests are some of the tests that may be used, depending on the symptoms. All findings are reviewed with our senior audiovestibular consultant to place results within the full clinical context.
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DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Specialist Tests to Assess Hearing, Balance and Inner Ear Health
Harley Street Specialists in Hearing, Dizziness & Balance
Specialist Care for Conductive Hearing Loss
Every Conductive Hearing Loss case is different. Your consultant will create a tailored plan to address your specific symptoms and lifestyle – when it started, how it affects your day, and which tests and treatments are right for you.