Otosclerosis is a condition characterized by abnormal bone growth around the stapes footplate, the smallest bone in the human body. This growth impedes sound transmission, leading to hearing loss.

Normally, sound waves enter the ear canal, causing the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then amplified and transmitted through three small bones in the middle ear: the malleus, incus, and stapes.

The movement of the stapes causes fluid in the inner ear to move, stimulating hair cells. These cells convert mechanical vibrations into electrical signals, which are then carried to the brain by the auditory nerve, enabling us to hear and understand sounds. Damage to any part of this transmission chain can result in hearing loss. When the stapes becomes fixed and cannot vibrate with sound, a person's hearing is impaired.

Symptoms of otosclerosis can be difficult to distinguish from other causes of hearing loss. However, a typical symptom is improved hearing in noisy environments. Other accompanying symptoms may include severe hearing loss, difficulty perceiving low, soft, deep, and whispered sounds, speaking softly because one's own voice feels loud, tinnitus, and dizziness.

To diagnose otosclerosis, patients undergo several examinations, including ear endoscopy, audiometry, tympanometry, stapedial reflex testing, and a temporal bone CT scan. These tests help to pinpoint the exact location and extent of the damage.

Doctor Hang is consulting a patient. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Currently, there is no specific medication to treat otosclerosis. If hearing loss is mild, the patient's condition may be monitored over time. For more severe cases, doctors recommend surgery to replace the stapes with an artificial prosthesis. This procedure helps to restore the sound transmission pathway to the inner ear. If surgery is not a viable option, patients may be advised to use hearing aids to amplify sound.

In cases where otosclerosis affects both ears, doctors typically operate on the ear with more severe hearing loss first. If the patient's hearing recovers well after the initial surgery, the remaining ear will undergo surgery, usually after an interval of 3-4 months.

Given your wife's diagnosis of otosclerosis, she should visit a hospital with an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department. A specialist can then conduct a thorough examination and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan. As the precise cause of otosclerosis is not yet clearly identified, there are currently no official recommendations for its prevention. If you experience unexplained tinnitus, dizziness, or hearing loss, it is advisable to seek prompt medical attention for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Doctor Tran Thi Thuy Hang

Head of Ear, Nose, and Throat Department

ENT Center

Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City