If a crewmember has ear wax buildup in the ear canal combined with noise induced hearing loss, what type of hearing loss does this crewmember likely have?

If a crewmember has ear wax buildup in the ear canal combined with noise induced hearing loss, what type of hearing loss does this crewmember likely have?

• A. Conductive
• B. Sensorineural
• C. Mixed
• D. Central

Answer: (C)

Hearing loss type is determined by where the problem is: blocking outer or middle ear causes a conductive loss, while damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve causes a sensorineural loss. Ear wax buildup in the ear canal blocks sound from reaching the eardrum, creating a conductive component. Noise exposure from loud environments damages cochlear hair cells, producing a sensorineural component. When both occur together, you get a mixed hearing loss, because both transmission of sound to the inner ear and the inner-ear sensitivity are affected. On testing, you’d expect signs of both components: an air-conduction deficit greater than the bone-conduction deficit (an air-bone gap) plus elevated thresholds from the sensorineural damage. So the crewmember most likely has mixed hearing loss.

Hearing loss type is determined by where the problem is: blocking outer or middle ear causes a conductive loss, while damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve causes a sensorineural loss. Ear wax buildup in the ear canal blocks sound from reaching the eardrum, creating a conductive component. Noise exposure from loud environments damages cochlear hair cells, producing a sensorineural component. When both occur together, you get a mixed hearing loss, because both transmission of sound to the inner ear and the inner-ear sensitivity are affected. On testing, you’d expect signs of both components: an air-conduction deficit greater than the bone-conduction deficit (an air-bone gap) plus elevated thresholds from the sensorineural damage. So the crewmember most likely has mixed hearing loss.