Final answer:
Conductive deafness affects the ear's ability to conduct sound, often due to issues in the outer or middle ear structures, while sensory deafness involves damage to the inner ear or neural pathways. Tests such as the Rinne and Weber can help differentiate between the two.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conductive deafness is a form of hearing loss caused by an issue in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being properly conducted to the inner ear. This could be due to a blockage in the ear canal, a perforated tympanic membrane, problems with the ossicles (the tiny bones in the middle ear), or fluid in the middle ear. On the other hand, sensory deafness, also known as sensorineural hearing loss, involves the inner ear or the auditory pathways to the brain. This type of deafness is the result of damage to the hair cells in the cochlea or to the auditory nerve and can be caused by aging, noise exposure, head trauma, infections, medications, or genetic factors.
To find the answer to a question about hearing, the Rinne and Weber tests using a tuning fork can be performed. These tests help to distinguish between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. With conductive loss, sound travels better through bone than through the air; however, in sensorineural loss, damage to the cochlea or the nerve results in decreased sound perception.
In terms of explanation, it is essential to understand the mechanical and neural pathways of sound transmission. The ear's structures, including the eardrum, ossicles, cochlea, and auditory nerves, work together to amplify and convert sound waves into neural signals, enabling us to perceive sound. Any disruption in these processes can lead to hearing loss.