What type of hearing loss is characterized by a faulty transmission of sound waves?

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves are not effectively transmitted through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear. This can result from various conditions, such as fluid in the middle ear, ear infections, eardrum perforation, or abnormalities in the ossicles (the bones that transmit sound). Since it specifically involves issues with the pathway that sound travels through, it is correctly identified as the type of hearing loss characterized by a faulty transmission of sound waves.

In contrast, sensorineural hearing loss stems from damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve, affecting how sound is processed; mixed hearing loss is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, and profound hearing loss refers to a severe degree of hearing impairment regardless of the underlying cause.