Hearing guide
Hearing loss is described by where the sound pathway is affected. Conductive loss involves the outer or middle ear, sensorineural loss involves the inner ear or hearing nerve pathway, and mixed loss has features of both. The label does not by itself identify the cause.
Common patterns
Wax, middle-ear fluid, eardrum problems and ossicle disorders can produce conductive loss. Age, noise exposure, some infections, genetic factors and other inner-ear conditions can produce sensorineural loss. More than one problem may be present.
How hearing is assessed
Assessment may include ear examination, pure-tone audiometry, speech testing and tympanometry. Children or people who cannot complete standard behavioural testing may need age-appropriate objective tests. Results should be interpreted with symptoms and medical history.
Treatment is cause-specific
Options may include treating an outer- or middle-ear problem, hearing rehabilitation, hearing devices, communication strategies, monitoring or specialist referral. Surgery is appropriate only for selected diagnoses after individual discussion of benefits and risks.
Sources and further reading
This is general educational information. It does not replace an individual examination, diagnosis or medical advice, and it does not guarantee an outcome.