![]() ![]() If otosclerosis affects both ears, typically the surgeon will choose to operate on the worst-hearing ear first and will not operate on both ears at the same time. Discuss specific instructions on ear drops and other post-operative directions with your ENT specialist. Hearing improvement may not be noticed until it is removed. The ear canal is generally packed at the time of surgery to allow the ear drum to heal properly. Risks of injuring the ear drum or causing additional hearing loss are rare but should be discussed. Taste sensation may also be altered for several weeks or months following surgery, but usually returns to normal. Some patients may experience dizziness the first few days after surgery. Modern prostheses are also MRI compatible. ![]() The stapes prostheses are very small and will not set off metal detectors. This surgery will not address any inner ear (sensorineural) hearing loss. The prosthetic device allows the bones of the middle ear to move again, correcting the conductive hearing loss. It involves removing part ( stapedotomy) or all ( stapedectomy) of the fixed stapes bone and replacing it with a prosthetic device or implant. The surgery is done through the ear canal with an operating microscope, or endoscope. In general, the stapes surgery is an outpatient procedure that can be done under local or general anesthesia. Surgery for otosclerosis is called a stapedectomy or stapedotomy. If a patient is prone to dizziness or has a diagnosis of Ménière’s disease, then trying a hearing aid before surgery may be advised. ![]() ![]() In some states, a hearing aid trial may also allow you to sample a device prior to purchase. Cost, style, fit, and possible benefits of a hearing aid should be discussed with your ENT specialist. Hearing aids can help overcome a fixed stapes by increasing the sound volume. Some medicines such as sodium fluoride or bisphosphonate supplements have been reported to limit the worsening of otosclerosis, but there is no definitive evidence of preventing its progression. Observation is recommended only for mild hearing loss. The main options for otosclerosis include observation with repeated hearing tests, a hearing aid(s), or surgery. Based on the exam findings and test results, your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and recommend treatment options that are best for you. The hearing test can also help determine if the stapes is not vibrating correctly, and your ENT specialist may request imaging scans of the ear. Patients with otosclerosis can also have inner ear hearing loss, called sensorineural hearing loss. A common finding is conductive hearing loss that is worse in low-frequency tones. After an examination, your ENT specialist may order a hearing test, or audiogram. Transmission of the gene that causes otosclerosis is complex and not everyone who has the gene will develop the condition.īecause many symptoms seen with otosclerosis can be caused by other medical or ear-related conditions, it’s important to be examined by an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist. Otosclerosis affects both ears approximately 70 percent of the time, however, the amount of hearing loss may not be the same in each ear.Īpproximately 60 percent of otosclerosis has an underlying genetic cause. The condition can develop in both women and men, although it has a higher incidence in woman and has been linked to rapid onset during pregnancy. Hearing loss can happen anytime, but it often begins in young adults, those in their twenties or thirties. An estimated 2.5 to 10 percent of adults have some otosclerosis in their middle ear. ![]()
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