Index
The otosclerosis is the growth of the small bones of the middle ear that often cause hearing loss.
This process generally results in immobilization of the stapes footplate, with consequent hearing loss. It can also determine presbycusis when the lesion is close to the mid-ramp.
Causes of otosclerosis
Otosclerosis is usually a hereditary disorder.
10% of white adults show signs of otosclerosis, but only 10% of them develop symptoms of hearing loss.
It is a more frequent condition in women, among which 60% of cases occur.
What symptoms appear?
The symptoms of otosclerosis are:
- Hearing loss.
- People who suffer from it often speak in low voices.
- Total deafness can occur when it affects structures inside the ear or the auditory nerve. Tinnitus can also appear: wheezing that sometimes becomes unbearable and is the reason why the person comes to the consultation.
How is it diagnosed?
The following diagnostic tests together with the symptoms that the person refers will be decisive for the detection of otosclerosis and the evaluation of hearing loss:
- otoscopy.
- bone x-rays of the ear.
- acumetry.
- audiometry .
For the diagnosis it will be of great help to know the family history due to the hareditary nature of the disease.
Treatment of otosclerosis
There is no medical treatment for otosclerosis, that is, there are no drugs that are effective against this condition.
There is surgical treatment but it is not indicated in older people. The intervention consists of removing the stapes and replacing it with a prosthesis.
The application of acoustic prostheses is usually recommended, which is often enough to obtain good results.
How to avoid it?
It cannot be avoided since it is a process that is associated with a hereditary alteration, what we can do is apply measures to prevent its discomfort and complications.
A consultation will be made when hearing difficulties are noticed and when annoying whistles appear that do not come from the environment.
Hello Readers, I am Nikki Bella a Psychology student. I have always been concerned about human behavior and the mental processes that lead us to act and think the way we do. My collaboration as an editor in the psychology area of Well Being Pole has allowed me to investigate further and expand my knowledge in the field of mental health; I have also acquired great knowledge about physical health and well-being, two fundamental bases that are directly related and are part of all mental health.