One of the most common causes of hearing loss in young adults, otosclerosis is a disease that affects the bones of the middle ear. Otosclerosis affects the stapes bone, which is the smallest hone in the human body, yet the stapes plays a crucial role in your ability to hear. Having the ability to hear means the stapes bone, one of the three small bones of the middle ear, can move freely. However, when a person has otosclerosis, abnormal bone remodeling happens on the stapes bone and causes it to become fixed in place. When the stapes bone can’t move freely and vibrate, it disrupts the movement of sound, and the person’s hearing becomes impaired as a result. Muffled sounds and the inability to hear certain sounds are just some of the symptoms of otosclerosis.
What are the signs and symptoms of otosclerosis?
Signs and symptoms of otosclerosis can start as early as 10 years old, but they usually begin around age 20 and can continue to get worse until the age of 50. A person suffering from otosclerosis can experience the following symptoms:
• Problems with balance
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
• Dizziness
• Hearing problems during pregnancy
• Gradual hearing loss
• Inability to hear low-pitched sounds
• Hearing loss starts in one ear and then moves to the other ear
While the exact reasoning behind why otosclerosis occurs is still unclear, this condition affects an estimated 10 percent of adult Caucasians and can be inherited. Middle-aged, Caucasian women are mostly affected, and it can even occur during pregnancy.
What increases my risk for otosclerosis?
Any of the following has been linked to an increased risk for developing otosclerosis:
• Having an immune disorder
• Being a woman
• Bones of the middle ear are fractured
• Pregnancy
• Family history of otosclerosis
• How is otosclerosis treated?
Treatment options for otosclerosis vary, as it depends on the severity of the disease. If you have a mild case, your doctor may suggest observation or the use of a hearing aid to help amplify sound. In some instances, sodium fluoride may be prescribed to slow the progression of the disease. In severe cases, a stapedectomy is performed to help improve or restore hearing loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Otosclerosis is a disease affecting the bones of the middle ear, specifically the stapes bone. It causes abnormal bone remodeling that fixes the stapes bone in place, preventing it from vibrating freely. This disruption in movement impairs the transmission of sound, leading to hearing loss.
Common signs and symptoms of otosclerosis include gradual hearing loss that often starts in one ear and then affects the other, difficulty hearing low-pitched sounds, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), problems with balance, dizziness, and hearing issues that may worsen during pregnancy. Symptoms typically appear between ages 20 and 50 but can start as early as age 10.
Otosclerosis primarily affects middle-aged Caucasian women and can have a genetic link, making family history a significant risk factor. Other factors increasing risk include having an immune disorder, fractures in the middle ear bones, pregnancy, and being female in general.
Yes, otosclerosis can be inherited and tends to run in families. A family history of otosclerosis increases the likelihood of developing the condition, suggesting a genetic component to the disease.
Diagnosis generally involves hearing tests and evaluation by an ear specialist. Treatment depends on severity: mild cases may only require monitoring or hearing aids, sodium fluoride may be prescribed to slow bone changes, and severe cases might need a surgical procedure called a stapedectomy to improve hearing.
A stapedectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part or all of the fixed stapes bone and replaces it with a prosthesis to restore movement and improve hearing. It is usually recommended for severe cases of otosclerosis when hearing loss significantly impacts quality of life and other treatments are ineffective.
