What defines mixed hearing loss?

Mixed hearing loss is defined as the presence of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss in an individual. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not able to efficiently travel through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear, potentially due to issues such as ear infections, fluid in the ear, or earwax buildup. Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, involves damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathways that connect the inner ear to the brain, often caused by aging, exposure to loud noise, or medical conditions.

When an individual has mixed hearing loss, they experience a combination of both types of dysfunction, indicating that there are problems both in the conduction of sound and in the sensory processing of sound. This makes the audiogram indicative of both conductive thresholds and sensorineural thresholds being compromised. Understanding this definition is key for hearing aid dispensers and audiologists, as it guides the selection of appropriate interventions that address both aspects of the hearing loss.