Otosclerosis or hardening of the ear results from the formation of abnormal sponge-like bone growth along the shapes in the middle ear. Shapes become immobile preventing transmission of sound vibration into the ear, leading to conductive hearing loss. is a condition that disrupts hearing by affecting the tiny bones in your middle ear. Abnormal bone growth fixes these bones in place, preventing them from vibrating properly in response to sound waves.
This leads to a gradual decline in hearing, often starting with muffled sounds and progressing to difficulty understanding speech. While isn’t curable, treatments like hearing aids and surgery can significantly improve hearing and restore quality of life.
Etiology:
- Idiopathic ( exact cause is unknown )
- Hereditary
- Viral infections ( measles may also trigger)
- Sex hormones( more common in females- twice as compared to males)
- Parathyroid hormone
Classification of Otosclerosis:
A- Historical otosclerosis
This type of otosclerosis does not produce any symptoms during life but is revealed only in postmortem
B- Clinical Otosclerosis
1-Stapedial Otosclerosi:
The osteosclerotic focus may produce ankylosis of shapes causing conductive hearing loss.
2- Cochlear Otosclerosis:
The otosclerotic process infringes upon the membranous labyrinth producing sensorineural deafness.
3- Mixed otosclerosis:
Causes both fixation of the stapes and the involvement of the labyrinth so that there is mixed hearing loss.
Pathophysiology of:
- Due to etiological factors
- The remodeling process of stapes becomes faulty
- Gradually abdominal bone growth
- Reduces movement of stapes
Signs and Symptoms of Otosclerosis:
- Loss of hearing
- Hardening of ear
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus(ringing)sensation
- Otalgia
Diagnosis of Otosclerosois:
- Audio-metric testing(determine the intent of hearing loss)
- Imaging
- Vestibular Testing
- Whisper Test
- Rinnes Test
- Weber Test
Management of Otoscleros:
1- Stapedectomy
2- Stapedotomy
3- Hearing Aids
