What are the types of hearing impairment from otosclerosis?
Had we been able to examine your inner ear under a microscope before a hearing impairment developed, we would have seen minute areas of both softening and hardening of the bone. This process may spread to the stapes, the inner ear, or to both these areas. Cochlear Otosclerosis When otosclerosis spreads to the inner ear a sensori-neural hearing impairment may result due to interference with the nerve function. This nerve impairment is called cochlear otosclerosis and once it develops it is permanent. In selected cases medication may be prescribed in an attempt to prevent further nerve impairment. On occasion the otosclerosis may spread to the balance canals and may cause episodes of unsteadiness. Stapedial Otosclerosis Usually otosclerosis spreads to the stapes or stirrup bone, the final link in the middle ear transformer chain. The stapes rests in a small groove, the oval window, in intimate contact with the inner car fluids. Anything that interferes with its motion results in a conduc
