Otosclerosis is a form of conductive hearing loss. It is caused by excessive bone growth on and around the stirrup in the middle ear. This decreases the mobility of the stirrup, allowing it to conduct less sound. It is a progressive disease that makes people slowly lose hearing and can occur in one or both ears. How otosclerosis begins and why a person gets it is still unclear, making prevention impossible. However, there are often treatments available to improve hearing. In this article, we will tell you more about this.
Otosclerosis at the cochlea
In addition to the most common form of otosclerosis, that of the stirrup, it is also possible for it to occur at the cochlea. We then speak not of conductive hearing loss, but of nerve hearing loss. We also call this cochlear otosclerosis. When bone growth affects both the stirrup and the cochlea, there is conductive hearing loss as well as nerve hearing loss.
How many people have this condition?
Otosclerosis occurs in 0.8-1.1% of the white population, and on average twice as often in women as in men. In the dark-skinned population, otosclerosis is much less common, but the reason for this is not known. In the Netherlands, there are a total of about 1,000 to 1,500 new cases per year, and it usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. In 70% of cases, the condition occurs on both ears.
Diagnosis of otosclerosis
Otosclerosis is not painful, and is not noticed until the patient experiences hearing loss. A hearing test at the audiologist can then diagnose the disease. There is then a “carhart notch” in the audiogram, a point where the air conduction threshold and bone conduction threshold tend slightly toward each other. This is characteristic of the condition. If this is the case, the audiologist will refer you to an ENT specialist.
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Treatment in 3 stages
When otosclerosis is diagnosed, a treatment regimen follows, which usually consists of 3 stages due to the progressiveness of the condition:
1. Waiting
Especially at the beginning of the disease, the patient has little discomfort. It is not painful and hearing loss is minimal. At this stage it is a matter of waiting and seeing how and how fast it progresses. By doing regular hearing tests and analyzing how the audiogram changes, the progression of the condition can be charted and follow-up steps can be taken.
2. A hearing aid, cochlear implant or bone anchored hearing aid
When bone growth has progressed to the point where it causes a troublesome hearing loss, a hearing aid, cochlear implant or bone anchored hearing aid may be chosen. Which solution is most appropriate depends on the type of otosclerosis. However, such a solution is temporary because the disease is progressive and will continue to worsen. A permanent solution requires surgery.
3. An operation
When waiting and a hearing aid do not provide a solution (anymore), surgery may be considered. This can only be done on the stirrup, replacing it partially or completely with a prosthesis. This allows the sound vibrations to be better transmitted again through the auditory bone chain to the cochlea and the patient regains better hearing. If there is also otosclerosis of the cochlea, a hearing aid may remain necessary.
A free, no-obligation hearing test
Measuring is knowing. Do you think you suffer from hearing loss? Then make an appointment for a free, no-obligation hearing test at Horend Goed, your specialist in hearing aids and hearing protection.
