Otosclerosis

The most common symptom of otosclerosis is gradual hearing loss in 1 or both ears, often over several years. You might notice that you can’t hear whispering or low-pitched tones or sounds, often ask people to repeat themselves, or need to have the radio or television on a higher and higher volume.

You may also experience:

• ringing, buzzing, or other noises in 1 or both ears (tinnitus)

• dizziness

• balance problems

• speaking quietly because your voice sounds loud to you

It's not known why otosclerosis happens, but it may be passed on through genes. You’re more likely to get otosclerosis if a close relative has it. But some people with otosclerosis don’t have a family history.

Risk factors for otosclerosis include:

• being female – twice as many women as men are diagnosed with otosclerosis

• age and race – the condition is most common in white women between the ages of 20 and 45

• having brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta)

• having had measles – more research is needed, but there may be a link

Diagnosing otosclerosis usually involves an initial consultation where our ear, nose and throat specialist will: 

1. Take a medical history to understand your health.

2. Get a full understanding of your symptoms and how they affect you – for example, what they are, what makes them worse or better, and how they affect your daily life, such as sleeping and working.

3. Examine your ears.

4. Review any previous notes or scans.

5. Talk through their initial findings and what will happen next.

6. They may recommend running some tests, such as hearing tests, like an audiogram to check which pitches of sound you can hear and a check of your eardrum function, balance tests, and a CT scan.

As this condition appears suddenly and seems to be linked to a family history or other health conditions, there’s no way to prevent it.

It’s important to be aware that otosclerosis causes increased hearing loss as the condition progresses. If you need treatment or surgery that has side effects or potential risks, your consultant will always talk these through with you, based on your specific health history.

There are several management options available for otosclerosis, including:

Hearing aids to help improve the quality and volume of the sound you hear. They won’t prevent your otosclerosis from getting worse, but many people manage well with hearing aids that are adjusted as their hearing changes.

Stapes surgery may be performed under general or local anaesthetic, to remove the whole or part of the stapes bone, and replace it so it doesn’t keep growing to affect hearing.

Cochlear implants can be placed to bypass your inner ear structure and create a new pathway through which sounds can travel to your brain.

At Welbeck, our ear, nose and throat specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.