What is otosclerosis?
Otosclerosis is a condition that results in abnormal overgrowth of bone in the middle ear. In your ear there are three tiny bones that sit behind the eardrum, called ossicles. All three bones (your malleus, incus + stapes) play an important role in transmitting sound into your inner ear. The stapes bone tends to be impacted most by this condition, with it starting out as a soft growth that scars and hardens over time. This then interrupts the transfer of sound through this passage of the ear. Most of the time, people will not notice they have this condition until they suffer from a conductive hearing loss. Less often, this growth can extend into the inner ear causing a mixed hearing loss and balance issues.
There are some risk factors for this condition, including:
– Genetics: otosclerosis can run in families. There’s a 25% chance of developing it if one parent has it and up to a 50% chance if both parents have the condition.
– Pregnancy: women will often show first signs of otosclerosis during or after pregnancy.
– Viral infections: some researchers have linked otosclerosis to measles, hypothesising that viral infections trigger the condition.
– Autoimmunity: otosclerosis may be an autoimmune response from the body when a person’s immune system is confused.
– Trauma: stress fractures to the bones of the ear and bony tissue surrounding the inner ear may increase otosclerosis risk.
Signs & symptoms
Unlike other types of hearing loss, Otosclerosis impacts people much younger (e.g. in their 20s/30s). One or both ears can also be affected.
- Hearing loss that worsens over time
- Issues with low/deep sounds
- Talking quietly because your voice sounds too loud
- Ringing/buzzing sounds (tinnitus)
- Dizziness (rare)
- May find hearing easier in background noise
Treatment Approaches
It is important that if you start to experience hearing loss, see an Audiologist for a hearing test. Your Audiologist will then refer you to your GP who may then refer you to an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon.
Otosclerosis may form and develop at different rates for different people, so some doctors might choose a wait-and-see approach, including regular hearing tests in the interim.
On a case by case basis, there are a few treatment options:
1. Surgery: this involves removing part of your stapes bone and replacing it with a plastic or metal implant. This operation is usually successful but there may be a small risk of losing more or all of your hearing.
2. Hearing aids: this is a low risk solution. Modern hearing aids are very small and discrete and can help amplify the parts of your hearing that are impaired.
If you have any concerns about your hearing, do not hesitate to reach out to us on (07) 3310 4494.
