Final answer:
Conductive hearing loss is an impairment in the transmission of sound due to an obstruction in the outer or middle ear. Hearing aids are often a suitable treatment for this type of hearing loss, as they amplify sound and help to bypass the obstruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for hearing loss due to an impairment in the transmission of sound caused by an obstruction is conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs when the passage of sound is blocked in the outer or middle ear. Common causes of conductive hearing loss include ear canal blockage, perforated eardrum, problems with the ossicles (small bones of the middle ear), or fluid in the space between the eardrum and cochlea.
Hearing aids can be an effective treatment for conductive hearing loss. They work by amplifying the sound vibrations entering the ear, thereby compensating for the obstruction or damage that is causing the hearing impairment. However, hearing aids are not effective for sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the inner ear or auditory nerve and often requires a cochlear implant.