A conductive hearing loss typically shows which of the following frequency patterns?

A conductive hearing loss typically displays a flat frequency pattern. This means that the hearing loss is generally consistent across different frequencies, indicating that the problem lies in the outer or middle ear, such as issues with the ear canal, eardrum, or ossicles. In these cases, sound transmission is impeded, leading to a similar level of hearing loss across the frequencies tested.

The flat pattern contrasts with other potential hearing loss types which may show more variability across frequencies. For instance, a rising pattern often suggests a sensorineural hearing loss where higher frequencies are affected less than lower frequencies, while descending patterns might indicate various conditions affecting primarily the lower frequencies. A notched pattern, which can be associated with certain types of noise-induced hearing loss, showcases a specific frequency that is more affected than others.