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Otosclerosis - Treatment
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Hearing loss due to otosclerosis is well corrected with the help of hearing aids, therefore the preliminary conversation with the patient should end with an explanation of the possibility of choosing a treatment method - surgical (with a certain probability of complications) or electroacoustic (devoid of this drawback).
The goal of treatment for otosclerosis
Restoration of sound conduction.
Indications for hospitalization
Indications for hospitalization are similar to indications for surgical treatment:
- the presence of a bone-air gap of at least 15 dB and bone conduction thresholds of no more than 40 dB in the speech frequency zone during an audiological examination:
- absence of signs of activity of the otosclerotic process (stable hearing for 1 year).
Non-drug treatment of otosclerosis
Electroacoustic hearing correction.
Drug treatment
Unknown.
Surgical treatment of otosclerosis
Stapedotomy (stapedectomy) with stapedoplasty.
Further management
An audiological examination (tone threshold audiometry) is performed 4, 6 weeks and 1 year after the operation, provided that hearing is stable or has improved. Deterioration of hearing, the appearance of noise in the operated ear, dizziness require immediate examination to determine the cause.
Approximate periods of disability depend on the nature of the patient's activity. After piston stapedoplasty, they are 2-3 weeks. Working in conditions of noise and (or) vibration requires either a change of profession or an increase in the period of disability.
For 3-4 months after stapedoplasty, the patient should avoid sudden head movements, jumping, running, using the elevator, with the exception of climbing to the 2nd-3rd floors with a fixed stop (climbing to a greater height in stages of 2-3 floors is possible). It is not recommended to use underground metro lines. When sneezing, you should open your mouth, blow your nose without effort. For 7-8 months, it is necessary to exclude flights on an airplane.
Forecast
The prognosis of the state of the auditory function depends on the distribution of atherosclerotic foci and the cochlear capsule. Involvement of the stapes base in the process leads to the development of conductive hearing loss, foci outside the windows are accompanied by the development of sensorineural hearing loss. In both cases, deafness is extremely rare.
Prevention of otosclerosis
Unknown.
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