Mixed hearing loss refers to

Mixed hearing loss refers to

• A. Only conductive hearing loss
• B. Only sensorineural hearing loss
• C. Both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
• D. Auditory neuropathy

Answer: (C)

Mixed hearing loss means there are both conductive and sensorineural problems going on. The conductive part comes from a problem in the outer or middle ear that makes it harder for sound to reach the inner ear, while the sensorineural part comes from an issue in the inner ear or the auditory nerve itself. In audiometry this shows up as elevated thresholds for both air and bone conduction, with an air-bone gap indicating the conductive component and the elevated bone-conduction thresholds indicating the sensorineural part. So you’re dealing with a combination: a conductive obstacle plus a sensorineural one.

Mixed hearing loss means there are both conductive and sensorineural problems going on. The conductive part comes from a problem in the outer or middle ear that makes it harder for sound to reach the inner ear, while the sensorineural part comes from an issue in the inner ear or the auditory nerve itself. In audiometry this shows up as elevated thresholds for both air and bone conduction, with an air-bone gap indicating the conductive component and the elevated bone-conduction thresholds indicating the sensorineural part. So you’re dealing with a combination: a conductive obstacle plus a sensorineural one.