What is a condition that combines conductive and sensorineural hearing loss in one ear?

The condition that combines conductive and sensorineural hearing loss in one ear is referred to as mixed hearing loss. This type of hearing loss involves problems in the outer or middle ear that affect sound conduction (conductive hearing loss) as well as issues in the inner ear or auditory nerve that affect the processing of sound signals (sensorineural hearing loss).

In mixed hearing loss, both types of loss coexist, meaning that there are issues with both how sound is transmitted through the ear structure and how that sound is interpreted by the auditory system. This condition can arise from various reasons, such as ear infections leading to conductive hearing loss, combined with age-related degeneration resulting in sensorineural loss.

Understanding mixed hearing loss is essential for developing appropriate therapeutic interventions, as it indicates that treatment might need to address both components—improving sound conduction as well as amplifying or clarifying sound processing in the auditory pathway.