conductive deafness

n. Disruption of conduction of sound vibrations through the outer and middle ear. Because of this disruption the ossicles of the middle ear cannot pass along the sound vibrations to the cochlea, resulting in deafness. If the abnormality is located in the inner ear, the nerve pathways of the auditory information to the brain, or the brain areas receiving the auditory information (primary auditory areas in the temporal lobes), the term sensorineural deafness is used. Different abnormal conditions can cause conductive deafness, including otitis media, foreign bodies or impacted wax in the external auditory canal, otosclerosis (spongy bone formation that results in fixation of the stapes, the last of the three middle ear ossicles), and perforation or rupture of the tympanic membrane.

- AA

► See also CENTRAL DEAFNESS