Stapes anvil and hammer11/21/2023 ![]() How Is It Diagnosed?īecause many of the symptoms typical of otosclerosis can also be caused by other medical conditions, it is important to be examined by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) to eliminate other possible causes of the symptoms. Other symptoms of the disorder can include dizziness, balance problems, or a sensation of ringing, roaring, buzzing, or hissing in the ears or head known as tinnitus. Often, individuals with otosclerosis will first notice that they cannot hear low-pitched sounds or whispers. Gradual hearing loss is the most frequent symptom of otosclerosis. If both parents have otosclerosis, the risk goes up to 50 percent. On average, a person who has one parent with otosclerosis has a 25 percent chance of developing the disorder. The disease can develop in both women and men, but is particularly troublesome for pregnant women who, for unknown reasons, often experience a rapid decrease in hearing ability. Approximately 60 percent of otosclerosis cases are genetic in origin. The hallmark symptom of otosclerosis, slowly progressing hearing loss, can begin anytime between the ages of 15 and 45, but it usually starts in the early 20’s. Overall, Caucasian, middle-aged women are most at risk. The condition is less common in people of Japanese and South American decent and is rare in African Americans. It is estimated that ten percent of the adult Caucasian population is affected by otosclerosis. When any part of this process is compromised, hearing is impaired. When the stapes bone moves, it sets the inner ear fluids in motion, which, in turn, start the process to stimulate the auditory (hearing) nerve. The hearing nerve then carries sound energy to the brain, resulting in hearing of sound. These vibrations cause movement of the eardrum that transfers to the three small bones of the middle ear, the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). In a normal ear, sound vibrations are funneled by the outer ear into the ear canal where they hit the eardrum. ![]() The stapes bone must move freely for the ear to work properly and hear well. It describes a condition of abnormal growth in the tiny bones of the middle ear, which leads to a fixation of the stapes bone. The term otosclerosis is derived from the Greek words for "hard" (scler-o) and "ear" (oto).
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