Скачать или смотреть Otosclerosis Explained: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Stapedotomy & Hearing Aids

What Is Otosclerosis? Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Explained | Audiology and ENT

What is otosclerosis, and how does it cause progressive hearing loss? In this video, we provide a clear, evidence-based overview of otosclerosis, a primary bone dysplasia of the otic capsule, suitable for patients, audiology professionals, and medical learners.

This video explains the condition step by step, from underlying pathophysiology and hallmark audiological findings to modern diagnostic approaches and current treatment options, including hearing aids and stapes surgery.

In this video, you will learn:

Pathophysiology and Epidemiology
How abnormal bone remodelling around the stapes footplate leads to stapes fixation and conductive hearing loss. We explain why otosclerosis typically presents in early-to-mid adulthood (20s to 40s), why it is more common in women (approximately 2 to 1), and why prevalence is higher in Caucasian populations.

Key Signs and Symptoms
How to recognise the classic clinical features of otosclerosis, including:
Progressive hearing loss that is often bilateral and asymmetric
Paracusis Willisii, where speech may be heard more clearly in background noise
Schwartze sign, a reddish blush seen on the promontory due to active otospongiotic foci
Non-pulsatile tinnitus commonly occurring alongside hearing loss

Diagnosis and Audiometry
A clear explanation of audiological assessment in otosclerosis, including the characteristic Carhart notch, seen as a reduction in bone-conduction thresholds around 2 kHz. We also discuss when high-resolution CT imaging is indicated to differentiate fenestral from cochlear otosclerosis.

Treatment Options: Hearing Aids and Surgery
Hearing aids: Why conventional air-conduction hearing aids are often first-line and highly effective for fenestral otosclerosis
Stapes surgery: A detailed comparison of stapedectomy and stapedotomy, including evidence showing air–bone gap closure to less than 10 dB in approximately 80 to 90 percent of primary stapedotomy cases
Medical therapy: The limited and selective role of sodium fluoride and bisphosphonates

Otosclerosis and Pregnancy
Does pregnancy worsen otosclerosis? We review current evidence suggesting that although some women report subjective hearing deterioration during pregnancy, routine preventative or prophylactic treatment is not currently recommended.

Key evidence and clinical points:
Histological otosclerotic foci are found in up to 10 percent of Caucasian temporal bones, although clinical prevalence is lower at approximately 0.3 to 0.4 percent
Inheritance is typically autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance of around 25 to 40 percent
Revision stapes surgery has significantly lower success rates than primary surgery
Cochlear implantation may be an option in advanced cochlear otosclerosis with profound hearing loss

Disclaimer:
This content is intended for educational purposes only. Although based on current medical literature, it does not replace personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.