What does an audiogram indicate for conductive hearing loss?

An audiogram is a visual representation of a person's hearing ability and is crucial for diagnosing types of hearing loss. In cases of conductive hearing loss, the key indicator noted on the audiogram is that air conduction thresholds are poorer than bone conduction thresholds. This distinctive pattern highlights that sound is not being conducted effectively through the outer or middle ear due to issues such as blockages, fluid, or injuries, while the inner ear structures remain functional, allowing bone conduction to be normal or less impaired.

Specifically, bone conduction bypasses the outer and middle ear structures, meaning that if bone conduction remains normal, the loss is determined to be conductive rather than sensorineural. Thus, the correct interpretation of an audiogram in the context of conductive hearing loss shows that while air conduction may indicate a loss, bone conduction retains normal thresholds. This difference assists audiologists in determining the appropriate interventions for the patient's hearing condition.