Otological, Audiological, and Intraoperative Features in Patients Suffering from Conductive Type of Hearing Loss: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is a common presentation in an otologic clinic. CHL occurs due to pathology in the middle ear and external auditory canal. Chronic otitis media (COM) is a common clinical entity which manifest CHL. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between otological and audiological findings with intraoperative findings in patients with CHL. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted between July 2024 and August 2025. This study included 80 patients diagnosed with CHL after a comprehensive evaluation process that included detailed history-taking, clinical examination, and audiological assessments. The study participants are divided into two groups, with each group consisting of 40 participants. Results: The mean age of the participants was 32.0 ± 10.62 years. The most commonly reported symptom was ear discharge (66.3%), followed by hearing impairment (33.8%). Among participants with a perforated tympanic membrane, 62.5% exhibited bilateral involvement, whereas 37.5% had unilateral involvement. Conversely, in the intact tympanic membrane group, 37.5% had bilateral involvement, while 62.5% had unilateral involvement, indicating a reversed pattern. In contrast, among inactive perforation cases ( n = 21), only a single case (4.8%) exhibited incus erosion, which was associated with an anterior perforation. Conclusion: The most common cause of CHL in the present study is COM. CHL is more pronounced in patients of COM with subtotal perforation who also exhibited a higher degree of ossicular damage.