What type of hearing loss is primarily caused by suppurative otitis media?

Suppurative otitis media, commonly known as a middle ear infection characterized by the presence of pus, primarily leads to conductive hearing loss. This type of hearing loss occurs when sound is impeded from efficiently passing through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear. The infection can cause fluid accumulation, swelling, and inflammation, which in turn directly affect the conduction of sound waves.

In conductive hearing loss, the problem lies along the pathways that transmit sound, as is the case with otitis media where the middle ear is affected. The middle ear's role in amplifying and transferring sound vibrations to the inner ear is compromised due to the blockage or dysfunction caused by the infection.

Conditions like mixed hearing loss can also occur if there's an additional issue in the inner ear or auditory nerve, but suppurative otitis media specifically points toward a primary conductive mechanism due to its impact on the middle ear structures. Sensory and neural hearing losses are more closely associated with damage to the inner ear structures or the auditory pathways, which are not the main issues in the case of otitis media.