[Differential Diagnosis of Conductive Hearing Loss].

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) is a complex symptom that can have many different underlying etiologies. Identifying the causative pathology and its clinical presentation is a significant challenge in otology. CHL encompasses a broad spectrum of possible causes, from acute middle ear infections to structural abnormalities and tumors. A precise differential diagnosis is essential to enable targeted and effective treatment. This article highlights the main etiologies, diagnostic approaches and differentiation of CHL, including history taking, clinical examination, audiometric testing and radiologic imaging. Particular attention is be paid to the importance of ear microscopy, pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry and imaging techniques such as high-resolution CT and MRI for the differential diagnosis of CHL. In addition, rare but relevant causes such as tumors and syndromic diseases are explained. The aim is to provide ENT physicians and specialists with a comprehensive understanding of the diagnosis and treatment options for CHL in order to sustainably improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients.