Otosclerosis: An Under-Appreciated Cause of Hearing Loss

You may not have heard the medical term otosclerosis, but it’s a fairly common cause of hearing loss. In fact, otosclerosis affects up to 10% of the population and is especially common among middle-aged women. In about 60% of cases, there’s a genetic component to this condition, as it tends to run in families. For people who don’t have a family history, some scientists speculate that a virus may be responsible for the onset of otosclerosis.

Otosclerosis literally means “hard ear.” It is a condition caused by abnormal growth and hardening of one of the bones that lie in the middle ear. These three bones called the malleus, incus and stapes move in response to sound vibrations. When these sound vibrations stimulate hair cells in the inner ear, mechanical energy converts the vibrations into electrical energy, and the energy is carried to the brain where it is interpreted as sound. Usually, the stapes is the middle ear bone that becomes hardened and inflexible with osteosclerosis. As a result, it cannot move as freely or carry vibrations into the inner ear, thereby creating problems with hearing.   

Hearing loss due to otosclerosis often comes on gradually, affecting one ear before the other. People with this condition have problems hearing low-pitched sounds first and may also experience ringing in the ears or tinnitus. Some individuals with this condition also experience dizziness and problems with balance.

What can you do if you have this condition? First and foremost, get evaluated by a hearing professional. Although a surgical procedure called a stapedectomy is available to correct the hardened area of the bone, it frequently does not restore hearing to normal, and, in some cases, can make it worse. Another option is to use a hearing aid to amplify sounds so you can hear them better.

References:

American College of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. (2015). What you should know about otosclerosis. Retrieved from https://www.entnet.org/content/what-you-should-know-about-otosclerosis

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2015). Otosclerosis. Retrieved from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/otosclerosis.aspx