Final answer:
An older adult with cerumen impaction in both ears is most likely experiencing conductive hearing loss, which is caused by blockages that prevent sound from reaching the cochlea.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of hearing loss that an older adult with cerumen impaction in both ears would typically experience is conductive hearing loss. This is because cerumen impaction is a blockage of the ear canal that impedes the proper transfer of sound waves to the cochlea. Conductive hearing loss can also result from issues such as a hole in the tympanic membrane, problems with the ossicles, or fluid in the space between the eardrum and cochlea. In contrast, sensorineural hearing loss is usually due to damage in the inner ear or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain, while presbycusis refers to age-related hearing loss, and cholesteatoma is a specific condition involving abnormal skin growth in the middle ear.