What type of hearing loss is most commonly associated with recurrent otitis media with effusion in children?

• A. Conductive hearing loss
• B. Sensorineural hearing loss
• C. Central auditory processing disorder
• D. Normal hearing

Answer: (A)

Fluid in the middle ear from recurrent otitis media with effusion interferes with the vibration of the eardrum and the ossicles, so sound conduction through the middle ear is reduced. This makes air conduction worse while bone conduction remains relatively intact, producing a conductive hearing loss. Central auditory processing disorder involves how the brain interprets sounds, not a problem with the mechanical transmission of sound, and sensorineural loss would involve the inner ear or nerve. In practical terms, you'd expect an air-bone gap on testing and signs of fluid behind a dull, poorly mobile tympanic membrane with a flat tympanogram, all pointing to conductive loss due to middle-ear effusion.