Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from reaching the inner ear. Most conductive hearing losses are temporary and can be treated with medication or surgery. When it cannot be treated with those means, many people benefit from the use of a hearing device.

Some possible causes of conductive hearing loss are:

• Fluid in the middle ear from colds
• Ear infections
• Allergies
• Perforated eardrum
• Impacted cerumen (earwax)
• Benign tumors
• Swimmer’s ear
• Presence of a foreign body
• Absence or malformation of the outer ear, ear canal, or middle ear