Which type of hearing loss generally has good discrimination ability?

The correct choice reflects that individuals with conductive hearing loss typically retain good discrimination ability despite their hearing impairment. Conductive hearing loss results from problems in the outer or middle ear that hinder sound from reaching the inner ear. Since the inner ear and auditory nerve often remain unaffected, individuals can still process and understand speech effectively, particularly in quiet environments. This preserved ability allows them to differentiate between sounds well, even though they may struggle with volume and clarity due to their conductive impairment.

In contrast, sensorineural loss, auditory processing disorder, and central auditory loss all involve dysfunctions in the inner ear, auditory pathways, or areas of the brain responsible for processing sound. These types of loss can significantly affect the ability to discriminate sounds, especially in noisy environments, leading to difficulties in understanding speech even when the overall hearing level may be within a normal range.