My doctor told me that I might have otosclerosis. Can my hearing loss be corrected by stapedectomy?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 48-year-old female, and I have moderate to severe mixed hearing loss in both my ears. However, I recently went to a different doctor who informed me that my hearing loss was mainly conductive and that too in my left ear. I also have a hole in my left eardrum, as well as severe tinnitus in that ear. I think my conductive hearing loss is due to an injury in my left outer ear and a virus. (Also, I wear hearing aids) My doctor also told me that I might have otosclerosis. Can my hearing loss be corrected by having a stapedectomy? Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Can you share your pure tone audiogram? Bilateral symmetrical mixed hearing loss is often a feature of otosclerosis. One way that can be of help to determine whether you have otosclerosis is tympanometry. Since you already have perforation, tympanoplasty with a direct exploration of the ossicular chain is also an option.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Your doctor is right. The attached audiogram (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity) does suggest a bilaterally symmetrical conductive hearing loss with a dip at 2000 Hz. This is typical of otosclerosis. Stapedotomy should help in improving your hearing. You should get tympanometry done. That would give an idea of the stiffness of the ossicular chain and further strengthen the diagnosis. If you are planning an operation, you should go with the ear with perforation. A tympanoplasty would help to directly examine the ossicular chain, and at the same time, perforation can be taken care of. If felt suitable, a piston can also be placed at the same time. Thank you.