What is a common cause of conductive hearing loss?

Impacted cerumen, or earwax buildup, is a prevalent cause of conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is an obstruction or interference in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound waves from being transmitted to the inner ear. Impacted cerumen can block the ear canal, creating a physical barrier that dampens or muffles sounds. This obstruction can result from natural earwax production, improper cleaning techniques, or the use of earplugs or hearing aids that push wax deeper into the ear canal.

Other factors like allergies, noise exposure, and age-related changes generally lead to sensorineural hearing loss or do not directly cause the conductive mechanisms to fail. Allergies may produce fluid in the middle ear but are not a direct obstruction like impacted cerumen. Noise exposure typically results in damage to the hair cells in the inner ear over time, leading to permanent sensorineural loss. Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is primarily a degeneration of the inner ear structures. Thus, impacted cerumen stands out as a common and treatable cause of conductive hearing loss.