Otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is a disease that causes the growth of abnormal new bone in the middle ear. The abnormal bone may cause one of the bones of the middle ear (the stapes bone) to become fixed and unable to vibrate. This prevents sound from moving from the bone in the middle ear to the inner ear and could cause reversible hearing loss. Hearing loss that results from sound not moving to the inner ear is known as conductive hearing loss.

Otosclerosis usually develops during the early adult years. The condition is more common in women, and pregnancy seems to speed the abnormal bone growth and result in hearing loss in some women. Many people with otosclerosis have a family history of the disease.

Hearing loss caused by otosclerosis usually develops slowly, and you may not notice or report a hearing loss for many years. It usually affects how well you hear "lower" sounds first. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) often occurs with this condition. The hearing loss can become severe in some cases.

Treatment options for otosclerosis include:

• Waiting to see if the condition stays the same or gets worse. This may be done if the hearing loss is mild and in one ear only.
• Using a hearing aid, which makes all sounds louder.
• Surgery, usually a stapedectomy. In this surgery, the top part of the stapes bone is removed and an opening is made in the remaining stapes bone. An artificial "piston" is placed in the opening. The piston sends the sound into the inner ear.