Otosclerosis, a pathology that affects the stapes and causes hearing loss
Written by:Otosclerosis is a disease of bone ear which affects the mobility of the ossicles and, more specifically, stirrup bone. This creates a fixation thereof and consequently poor transmission of sound through the middle ear, resulting in deafness.
Causes of otosclerosis
The origin of otosclerosis is unknown. Although this appears to be a disease of autosomal dominant genetic transmission, the expression is variable. Only affects some isolated cases of the family and, sometimes, only one member, without this having a family history.
Also, some hormonal factors seem to play an important role in otosclerosis. This occurs more often in women than in men and has been shown that pregnancy, often accelerates the progression of the disease.
Otosclerosis symptoms in the patient and consequences for hearing
The main symptom of otosclerosis is usually progressive and hearing loss in both ears, sometimes accompanied by noises in the ear, called tinnitus or tinnitus and occasionally accompanied by some instability.
The long - term consequences of otosclerosis are a severe-profound deafness, usually bilateral, with the consequent social and occupational isolation for the patient if untreated.
Importance of treating otosclerosis and treatments available
If left untreated the long-term consequences of otosclerosis are a deep-severe, usually bilateral, deafness with consequent socio-professional isolation.
The treatment most recommended by the specialist in Otolaryngology is surgery. This surgery can be performed under local anesthesia and sedation through the ear canal and is the replacement of the stapes bone, whose average size is 4.5mm, with a prosthesis designed for it. This will get back a good chain mobility and good sound transmission, recovering hearing.
An alternative to surgical treatment in patients who do not want surgery is the adaptation of an external device (headset-sonetone) to amplify the sound and improving hearing. The fact of adapting a device has no risk. However, patients who undergo the surgical treatment have significantly greater satisfaction with the quality of hearing than those with external device, besides the great advantage of not relying on any external prosthesis or use batteries.
Result replacement surgery stirrup (Stapedectomy / Stapedotomy)
The results of the stapes replacement surgery in experienced hands are very favorable, getting a hearing recovery in 99% of cases.
