Conductive Hearing Loss: A Red Flag to See Your Doctor Before Hearing Aids

This is red flag number 10 in my series on the 11 red flags that mean you need medical clearance from your doctor before getting hearing aids. This one is a conductive hearing loss.

What is a conductive hearing loss?

A conductive loss is sound being blocked in the middle ear. The sound isn't getting through the way it should.

How I test for it: air and bone

I measure your hearing twice. The first time is through the air and the eardrum, which is the normal way. The second time is through a small vibrator on the bone behind your ear, which tests the nerve directly.

When the bone result comes back better than the air result, that points to a problem in the middle ear. It could be a plugged Eustachian tube, fluid behind the eardrum or a hole in the eardrum.

The number I watch for

The red flag is a difference of 15 decibels or more between the air test and the bone test at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 hertz.

Why an over-the-counter hearing aid can't catch this

Air and bone testing is part of a diagnostic hearing test. An over-the-counter hearing aid doesn't do that. If your test shows a conductive loss, you need medical clearance from your doctor first.

Watch all 11 red flags

This is one of 11 red flags I look for before fitting hearing aids. You can watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/3yqjKpd7lCQ

Book a hearing test at home

I do in-home hearing tests and hearing aid care across the Okanagan, so you don't need to go to a clinic. If you'd like a full diagnostic hearing test at your own kitchen table, give me a call at 778-215-5261.

Joe Wadden, Hearing Instrument Practitioner, Valley Mobile Hearing Care

This is general information, not a diagnosis.