What type of hearing loss can impacted cerumen cause?

Impacted cerumen, commonly known as earwax blockage, primarily causes conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs when sound is not able to efficiently travel through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear. When cerumen builds up and creates a blockage, it obstructs sound transmission, leading to a reduction in hearing ability.

In contrast, sensorineural hearing loss is typically associated with damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve and does not result from physical obstructions. Mixed hearing loss involves both conductive and sensorineural components, indicating issues in both the outer/middle and inner ear. An auditory processing disorder relates to the brain's ability to process sounds, which is not connected to earwax or conductive mechanisms. Therefore, the presence of impacted cerumen most accurately aligns with conductive hearing loss, making it the correct response.