I have been diagnosed with possibly having otosclerosis...Could you explain to me what it is and if there is surgery to help it...thanks
Reply: --------------------------------------
Otosclerosis is a focal bone disorder that affects a small localized area within the bone called the temporal bone which houses the organs of hearing and balance. The specific area of the temporal bone that is affected involves one of the vibrating ear bones known as the stapes (or stirrup). The bone dyscrasia causes the stapes to become fixed or unable to vibrate properly when sound waves are transmitted from the ear drum through the chain of small ear bones (including the stapes) enroute to the inner ear and brain.
Initially this results in a form of hearing loss known as conductive hearing loss - nerve hearing can be normal. In this stage, surgical treatment can restore normal hearing by replacement of the stapes with an artificial prosthesis - a surgical procedure known as a stapedectomy. Eventually though, the bone dyscrasia usually progresses to involve the inner ear and subsequently causes nerve or inner ear hearing loss which can only be treated with hearing aid amplification. It is a hereditary condition that has variable penetrance and manifestation throughout generations of affected families.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
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