Which type of hearing loss is characterized by air conduction and bone conduction thresholds differing by more than 10 dB?

The type of hearing loss characterized by air conduction and bone conduction thresholds differing by more than 10 dB is known as conductive hearing loss. This distinction arises from the nature of the blockage or issue within the auditory system.

In conductive hearing loss, sound does not effectively travel through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear. This can occur due to conditions such as earwax buildup, fluid in the middle ear, or damage to the eardrum. When conducting a hearing test, individuals with conductive hearing loss will typically exhibit poorer air conduction results compared to their bone conduction results, leading to a difference of greater than 10 dB.

In contrast, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) involves damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, which would generally show a similar degree of loss in both air and bone conduction thresholds, rather than the significant difference observed in conductive hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss combines features of both conductive and sensorineural loss, but again, the hallmark of a significant gap in air versus bone conduction thresholds points directly to the conductive nature of the hearing impairment.

Therefore, the defining characteristic of conductive hearing loss is clearly the significant disparity (greater than 10 dB)