Which type of hearing loss is indicated by the same air conduction and bone conduction results on an audiogram?

The scenario described indicates that both air conduction and bone conduction results on the audiogram yield the same thresholds, which is characteristic of sensorineural hearing loss. In sensorineural hearing loss, the problem lies within the inner ear or the auditory nerve pathways, affecting both the air and bone conduction pathways equally.

When both air and bone conduction thresholds are the same, it informs us that the inner ear mechanisms are functioning below normal levels, leading to a reduction in the ability to perceive sound. This aligns with the nature of sensorineural hearing loss, where the auditory system (comprising the cochlea and beyond) is unable to process sounds effectively, regardless of whether they travel through the air or directly to the inner ear via bone conduction.

Conductive and mixed hearing losses would present differently on an audiogram. In conductive hearing loss, bone conduction thresholds are typically better than air conduction thresholds, while in mixed hearing loss, there would be a gap between the air and bone conduction results due to the presence of both conductive and sensorineural components. Acute hearing loss is less a description of the type of hearing loss and does not correlate with the patterns seen on an audiogram.

Therefore, the indication that both air and bone conduction results are the same