Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 3/4/2009

Question
My 5yrs old was dignost with conductive hearing loss what that means? i haven't seen the specialist until next week

Answer
Hi Aleah,

Who diagnosed him?  Did he have his hearing checked by an audiologist?  What specialist are you going to see?  An ENT (ear specialist)?  

A conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a some type of blockage in the ear canal or the middle ear that reduces sound to the inner ear. It is called "conductive" because the sound is not "conducted" from the outside to the inside of the ear.  The most common reasons for a conductive loss is ear wax or fluid in the middle ear - that part of the ear that has three little bones and helps deliver sound to the nerves in the inner ear.  

In a five year old, conductive hearing losses due to fluid in the middle ear are very common.  Did your child just recently have a cold?  Does he have allergies?  Colds and allergies make a child more likely to get fluid.  The fluid builds up because the Eustachian Tube (ET) - a tube that goes from the middle ear to the nose - swells up and causes this fluid to build.  The fluid itself usually is reabsorbed by the body once the ET reopens; however, if the ET does not open right away, the fluid can build up and bacteria begin to grow.  At this point, your child will need antibiotics.  Nasal sprays may also help the ET open and help the fluid reabsorb. Once the fluid is gone, and the ET opens up again, your child's hearing should return to normal. The ENT will be the best professional to provide you with the proper diagnoses and treatment.

Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology