Analyze the findings in the case study below to determine the nature of the patient's hearing impairment. Explain which part of the auditory process is most likely failing and why.

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Conductive hearing loss is a type of auditory impairment characterized by a failure in the transmission of sound energy to the cochlea. This condition specifically involves problems with the mechanical components of the ear, such as a failure in the vibration of the eardrum and/or a failure in the movement of the ossicles.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Conductive hearing loss can be caused by physical blockages in the ear canal, a hole in the tympanic membrane, problems with the ossicles, or the presence of fluid between the eardrum and cochlea.

Causes of Conductive Hearing Loss

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2017). Hearing aids. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing-aids

Hearing Aids

An individual visits an audiologist complaining of muffled hearing in one ear. The audiologist performs a test using a vibrating tuning fork. When the base of the tuning fork is placed on the bone directly behind the ear, the individual can hear the sound clearly. However, when the tuning fork is held in the air next to the ear canal, the sound is barely audible. Based on these results, what is the most likely explanation for the hearing impairment?

Diagnosing Hearing Impairment

A hearing aid is a small electronic device worn in or behind the ear that can help deal with mechanical hearing problems, such as conductive hearing loss. It functions by amplifying incoming sound waves to make the vibration of the eardrum and the movement of the ossicles more likely to occur.

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