What is a common complication of chronic middle ear infections leading to cholesteatomas?

Hearing loss is a common complication arising from chronic middle ear infections that can lead to the development of cholesteatomas. When the middle ear is persistently infected, the normal drainage pathways can become obstructed, resulting in a buildup of fluid and eventually the formation of a cholesteatoma. This growth can damage the surrounding structures, including the ossicles involved in sound conduction, which plays a critical role in hearing. The disruption of these structures often results in conductive hearing loss. Additionally, the presence of a cholesteatoma can lead to associated problems, such as erosion of the bony structures of the ear, further exacerbating hearing impairment.

Other options may describe complications associated with ear infections, but they are less directly related to the formation of cholesteatomas. For instance, facial nerve dysfunction can occur if the cholesteatoma erodes the bony facial canal, but this is less common as an initial complication compared to hearing loss. Sinusitis is more commonly associated with upper respiratory infections rather than direct complications from middle ear infections. Otitis externa, which is an infection of the outer ear canal, is a different entity than a middle ear infection and does not typically develop as a result of cholesteatomas. Therefore