Otosclerosis is a common cause of hearing impairment. (The word otosclerosis can be broken into its two medical words: “oto” for ear, and “sclerosis” meaning hardening.) Approximately 5% of all people with hearing impairment have otosclerosis. The condition is hereditary. That is, members of a family pass the condition down to their children. Although otosclerosis is hereditary, this does not necessarily mean that the children of patients with otosclerosis will develop the condition.

Hearing Impairment from Otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is an abnormal growth of bone. The abnormal bone growth of otosclerosis may spread to the inner ear, stapes (the third ear bone), or to both of these areas.
When otosclerosis spreads to the inner ear a sensorineural hearing impairment (see “Hearing Loss”) may result due to interference with hearing nerve function. Once nerve impairment develops it is permanent. Very rarely does otosclerosis alone cause total deafness. In selected cases medications may be prescribed in an attempt to prevent further nerve impairment.
It is more common for otosclerosis to surround the stapes bone than to damage the inner ear. The abnormal otosclerotic bone hardens around the stapes and eventually stops the movement of the stapes. The immobile stapes cannot carry sound vibrations to the inner ear. Therefore a conductive hearing loss develops. The degree of sensorineural and/or conductive hearing impairment can be determined only by careful hearing tests.

Medical Treatment

There is no local treatment to the ear itself or any medication that will improve the hearing in persons with otosclerosis.

Surgical Treatment

The stapes operation (see “stapedectomy”) is recommended for patients with otosclerosis who are candidates for surgery. This operation is performed under local or general anesthesia with the use of laser and microscopic techniques. Most patients go home the same day (outpatient procedure). Convalescence at home for about a week or so is recommended. Over 90% of these operations are successful in improving the conductive hearing loss. For more information regarding stapedectomy, please click here.