What type of hearing loss can abnormalities of the outer or middle ear cause?

Abnormalities of the outer or middle ear typically result in conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs when there is a problem in the mechanical transmission of sound through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear (ossicles). Conditions such as earwax buildup, fluid in the middle ear, ear infections, or abnormalities in ear structures can obstruct sound waves, preventing them from efficiently reaching the inner ear.

In contrast, sensory/neural hearing loss primarily originates in the inner ear or the auditory nerve and is not related to the outer or middle ear. Mixed hearing loss involves both conductive and sensory/neural components, while central hearing loss pertains to issues within the brain's processing areas for auditory information. These distinctions clarify why conductive is the correct classification for hearing loss associated with outer and middle ear abnormalities.