Otosclerosis
Introduction
Otosclerosis is a condition in which there's abnormal bone growth inside the ear. It's a fairly common cause of hearing loss in young adults.
There arethree tiny bones deep inside the ear, which vibrate when sound waves enter.They transmit sound waves to the cochlea (inner ear), which converts them into signals that are sent to the brain.
In otosclerosis, the stapes ("stirrup" bone) begins to fuse with the surrounding bone, eventually becoming fixed so it can't move. This means sound is no longertransmitted into the inner ear efficiently.
This page covers:
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 28 Nov 2016
Introduction
Find out about otosclerosis, including the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Symptoms of otosclerosis
Most people with otosclerosis noticehearing problems in their 20s or 30s. One or both ears can be affected. Symptoms of otosclerosis include: Hearing impairment that gets gradually worse over time
Is otosclerosis serious?
Otosclerosis can cause mild to severe hearing loss, but it very rarely causes total deafness. Your hearing usually gets worsegradually over months or a few years and may continue to get worse if igno
When toget medical advice
See your GP if you're worried about your hearing. Theywill ask about your symptoms, examine your ears, take your medical history and may do some simple hearing tests . If your GP suspects a problem
Treatments for otosclerosis
Otosclerosis can usually be treated successfully with either a hearing aid or surgery. If your hearing loss is very mild, you may not need any treatment at first. Hearing aids A hearing aid is an el
Causes of otosclerosis
The exact cause of otosclerosis is unclear and it's not known whether you can do anything to prevent it. Many cases seem to run in families and it's thought they may be the result ofinheriting a faul
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products