The term 'conductive hearing loss' refers to a problem with the passage of the physical vibrations which we interpret as sound. This can be caused by damage to the ossicles or the tympanic membrane or by an obstruction such as a build-up of wax.


In the cochlea the physical vibrations are converted into electrochemical signals which are transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve. Failure by the auditory nerve to conduct these electrochemical signals is not regarded as conductive hearing loss.