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.
