What is a common feature of conductive hearing loss?

Conductive hearing loss is primarily characterized by issues that prevent sound from effectively traveling through the outer and middle ear to the inner ear. This often results from physical blockages or obstructions, such as fluid accumulation in the middle ear, earwax buildup, or structural abnormalities in the ear.

This type of hearing loss does not generally involve damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve, which are more closely associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Degeneration of the auditory nerve is a characteristic of other conditions, while exposure to loud noises typically leads to noise-induced hearing loss, primarily affecting the sensory cells in the inner ear rather than the conduits for sound. Therefore, the correct identification of blockage of sound transmission encapsulates the essence of conductive hearing loss.