Mixed Hearing Loss

Mixed hearing loss is a type of hearing loss that has features of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss occurring simultaneously in the same ear. There is permanent inner ear damage (the sensorineural component) alongside a problem in the outer or middle ear (the conductive component) that further reduces the hearing level.

For example, a person may have age-related sensorineural hearing loss combined with a cerumen impaction or middle ear fluid that adds a conductive overlay. On an audiogram, mixed hearing loss shows a gap between air conduction and bone conduction thresholds (indicating a conductive component) while bone conduction thresholds also fall outside the normal range (indicating the sensorineural component).

Treatment addresses both components. The conductive element may be medically or surgically manageable, potentially improving hearing closer to the sensorineural baseline. The sensorineural element typically requires hearing aids or implantable devices for ongoing management.