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What Is Conductive Hearing Loss?

by | Mar 15, 2022 | Hearing Loss, Patient Resources

Identifying hearing loss can be problematic because it presents itself differently. The term “hearing loss” is a broad term used to describe a range of types and degrees of hearing conditions.

Conductive hearing loss is one of the three main categories of hearing loss, although not the most common – it still presents significant challenges to those suffering.

With almost 40 years of experience as an audiologist, I’m proud to help residents in the Upstate achieve better hearing through expert hearing healthcare.

If you or a loved one believes you are suffering with a conductive hearing loss, I’m here to offer education, advice, and support for your best next steps in seeking better hearing.

Causes Of Conductive Hearing Loss

  • Ear infection
  • Fluid in your middle ear from colds or allergies
  • A hole in your eardrum (perforated eardrum)
  • Earwax buildup of cerumen gets stuck in your ear canal
  • An object lodged in your outer ear
  • Infection in the ear canal, called external otitis. Also known as swimmer’s ear.
  • Benign tumors. These tumors are not cancerous but can block the outer or middle ear.
  • A problem with how the outer or middle ear is formed. Some people are born without an outer ear. Some may have a deformed ear canal or have a problem with the bones in their middle ear.
Conductive Hearing Loss blog CTA

What Does Conductive Hearing Loss Mean?

Your ear has three significant aspects: inner, outer, and middle.

Conductive hearing loss affects the outer and middle ear and prevents sound from reaching the inner ear. When the anatomy of the ear is compromised, it interrupts the signals that are sent from your ear to your brain.

This interference is why so many people with a conductive hearing loss have trouble hearing low volume sounds. There is too much blockage within the ear to clearly decipher what is being heard.

What Treatment Options Are Available For Conductive Hearing Loss?

Determining your type of hearing loss can only be done by an audiologist. We hear stories of those in our community who have sought a solution by purchasing online or OTC hearing aids.

This is a huge risk that is occurring more frequently with more of these devices being readily available to the consumer.

However, when hearing loss is concerned – you are not a consumer. You are a person who needs professional medical intervention.

By self-diagnosing hearing loss with a short online test, and purchasing hearing devices without the support of an audiologist, you could be ignoring a potentially severe underlying medical condition that is causing your hearing loss.

Equally, the conductive hearing loss you are experiencing can be cured if the blockage is due to earwax or debris within the ear – therefore purchasing a hearing aid online or over the counter would be a waste of money and not remedy your problem.

Partnering With An Expert In The Upstate

At Upstate Hearing Aid Center, we provide a comprehensive hearing assessment that will equip us to accurately diagnose your hearing challenges. We then create a tailored hearing treatment plan to address your unique needs to ensure you achieve better hearing with us.

Prescription hearing aids are the most common form of treatment for most types of hearing loss. However, conductive hearing loss can be cured in some cases through removal of a blockage or treatment of an infection.

Your best next step in determining if you have a conductive hearing loss or otherwise is to schedule a comprehensive hearing assessment.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us as soon as you can. We are always ready to assist the residents in Greensville and the Upstate communities.

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Virginia Wright, AuD.

Virginia (Ginny) Wright has practiced as an audiologist for almost 40 years, primarily in the Upstate, but also in settings as varied as Philadelphia, PA and Key West, FL. An active participant in community and professional associations, she is a Past President of the South Carolina Academy of Audiology as well as a former member of the South Carolina Board of Licensing in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Dr. Wright received her B.S. in Speech Pathology from Mississippi University for Women, her M.A. in Audiology from The University of Tennessee, and her clinical doctorate (AuD) in Audiology from Arizona School of Health Sciences. Her commitment to her patients is evident in her enthusiasm to help them on their journey to better hearing. Dr. Wright loves movies, documentaries, dining out, reading, and spending time with friends. She lives in Greer with her two cats, Lana and Helen.

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