Where is otosclerosis found in the body?

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 are 3 tiny bones deep inside the ear that vibrate when sound waves enter.

Where does otosclerosis occur in the ear?

Otosclerosis is most often caused when one of the bones in the middle ear, the stapes, becomes stuck in place.

Who is otosclerosis most common in?

Otosclerosis is the most common cause of middle ear hearing loss in young adults. It typically begins in early to mid-adulthood. It is more common in women than in men. The condition may affect one or both ears.

What does otosclerosis look like on an audiogram?

On an audiogram, patients with otosclerosis commonly have conductive hearing loss with a drop in the bone-conduction threshold at 2,000 Hz, called a Carhart notch. This finding, in addition to an absent acoustic reflex, is generally thought to be diagnostic of otosclerosis.

Can otosclerosis go away?

Otosclerosis gets worse without treatment. Surgery can restore some or all of your hearing loss. Pain and dizziness from the surgery go away within a few weeks for most people.

Is otosclerosis a disability?

If you have profound hearing loss or deafness, you should be able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) details how significant your hearing loss must be for it to qualify as a disability that prevents you from working, and thus makes you eligible for benefits.

How did I get otosclerosis?

The exact cause of otosclerosis is unknown. It may be passed down through families. People who have otosclerosis have an abnormal extension of sponge-like bone growing in the middle ear cavity. This growth prevents the ear bones from vibrating in response to sound waves.

What is the best treatment for otosclerosis?

Surgery — Surgery can be a highly effective treatment for otosclerosis. The procedure is called a “stapedectomy” (or “stapedotomy”). The procedure is intended to “bypass” the fixed part of the stapes bone by removing it, and replacing it with a new, mobile, prosthetic bone.

How quickly does otosclerosis progress?

The hearing loss from otosclerosis is usually progressive over many years. Both ears are often affected, although one ear is usually worse than the other. The hearing loss may progress during pregnancy and (possibly) with certain types of hormonal treatment.

What are the stages of otosclerosis?

There appear to be three stages of otosclerosis -resorptive osteoclastic stages with signs of inflammation, followed by an osteoblastic stage involving immature bone, followed by mature bone formation.

How is otosclerosis inherited?

Genetics: Otosclerosis tends to run in families. Estimates vary, but many (perhaps up to 50%) of those with the disorder have a gene linked to it. Statistics also show that there’s a 25 percent chance of developing otosclerosis if one parent has it and twice that (50%) if both parents have it.

Is otosclerosis curable?

Otosclerosis cannot be cured, but the hearing loss it causes can be overcome.

Where does the term otosclerosis come from and what causes it?

Otosclerosis is a term derived from oto, meaning “of the ear,” and sclerosis, meaning “abnormal hardening of body tissue.” The condition is caused by abnormal bone remodeling in the middle ear.

How many people are affected by otosclerosis in the US?

In otosclerosis, abnormal remodeling disrupts the ability of sound to travel from the middle ear to the inner ear. Otosclerosis affects more than three million Americans. Many cases of otosclerosis are thought to be inherited.

How does otosclerosis affect the inner ear nerve?

Much less frequently, the scarred bone tissue from otosclerosis affects the inner ear, impinging nerve function there and resulting in sensorineural hearing loss and sometimes balance issues.

What kind of bone is needed to study otosclerosis?

Because researchers can’t remove and analyze a sample of the inner ear from someone who has otosclerosis (or other hearing disorders), they must study ear bone samples from cadavers donated for research. These samples, called temporal bone, are in short supply.