Find out more about otosclerosis in our article. If you would like to have your hearing professionally tested or if you would like to treat an already diagnosed hearing loss with hearing aids - you can visit the Amplifon branch nearest to you. Our hearing specialists will advise you at any time, free of charge and without obligation. 

In Otosclerosis, the stirrup bone (stapes) grows into the surrounding bones which stops its ability to vibrate and create sound waves. This means that when suffering from this, a person experiences a loss of hearing because the brain cannot correctly receive sound signals.

You may experience symptoms of otosclerosis from as early as your 20s. Symptoms may include:

• Difficultly heaing low volume sounds
• Your voice sounds loud to you
• Finding background noise helpful for your hearing
• Tinnitus

A first sign of otosclerosis is increasing hearing loss in one ear. After some time, the second ear follows. Often, people with otosclerosis complain of Tinnitus or ringing in the ears at the same time. Both can occur in connection with otosclerosis and therefore require medical clarification. 

Interestingly, patients report that they can follow conversations better in noisy environments. This could be related to the fact that they perceive disturbing sounds in low pitches more quietly due to the disease. In addition, people who suffer from this condition usually speak remarkably soft because their own voice is perceived as loud via bone conduction. 

The causes of otosclerosis are still relatively unclear. Researchers are discussing the role played by familial heredity. However, viral infections, such as mumps, measles, rubella or hormonal influences are yet to be ruled out.

A connection with the female sex hormones is primarily suggested by the accumulation of cases of otosclerosis in pregnancies and women in general. In some families, several family members suffer from the disease, which is why a genetic cause is also possible.

There are several ways to diagnose otosclerosis. During the examination by an ENT specialist, the eardrum, middle ear, and Eustachian tube initially appear inconspicuous. However, a hearing test and the corresponding audiogram will provide clues that something is wrong. Clear evidence can be found by looking at the so-called Carhart depression.

This bone conduction threshold curve is located in the range between 1 and 4 kHz. However, not every patient shows this typical course in the audiogram. Various examinations provide information about whether a conductive or a sensorineural hearing loss is present and which ear is more severely affected. 

Additionally, the absence of the stapedius reflex, a hallmark of stapes fixation, may further support the diagnosis of otosclerosis.