What is a common cause of conductive hearing loss?

Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem conducting sound waves through the outer ear, eardrum, or middle ear structures. One of the most common causes of conductive hearing loss is otitis media, which is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. This condition can lead to fluid accumulation in the middle ear space, preventing sound vibrations from being transmitted effectively to the inner ear.

In contrast, presbycusis, which is age-related hearing loss, is typically associated with sensorineural hearing loss affecting the inner ear and is not a cause of conductive hearing loss. Tinnitus refers to the perception of noise or ringing in the ears and does not directly cause conductive hearing loss. Acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor on the vestibulocochlear nerve, leading to sensorineural hearing loss rather than conductive hearing loss.