Otosclerosis is an ear-related condition that can significantly affect the quality of your hearing if it goes unaddressed and even lead to deafness. It’s estimated that as many as one in 10 Americans struggle with this problem. Luckily there are viable treatments for hearing loss due to otosclerosis. Explore the hearing restoration options available at Ear Nose & Throat, Surgeons of Western New England LLC in Springfield.

What is Otosclerosis?
There are tiny bones in the middle and inner ear called ossicles, which help make up the structure of the ear. Calcium can deposit around the base of the third ear bone, the stapes, that disrupts your ability to hear properly. This is a medical condition called otosclerosis, which is a major cause of hearing problems in people o of all ages, both young and old. The growth makes it difficult for sound to vibrate and transmit through the ear system, and can eventually lead to significant hearing loss.

What Is the Cause of this Condition?
Medical experts know that otosclerosis is a hereditary disease that is passed along from parent to child. According to the American Hearing Research Foundation, a child with one parent who has this ear condition has a 50 percent chance of inheriting it. Some studies have linked otosclerosis to a history of measles infections and it is most commonly found in Caucasian patients, but is seen in all ethnicities. Symptoms begin to appear as young as age 10 and can advance throughout life, sometimes even starting much later in life

How is it Remedied?
Doctor Mason at the Ear Nose & Throat, Surgeons of Western New England LLC in Springfield treats about 60 cases of hearing loss due to otosclerosis each year with a procedure called a laser stapedotomy. He has personally performed over 700 of these procedures, during which a KTP laser is used to replace the frozen stapes bone with a titanium prosthesis. In some cases, patients who prefer a non-surgical solution can benefit from wearing a prescription hearing aid.

Get Help Today
The Ear Nose & Throat, Surgeons of Western New England LLC can help you get relief from the symptoms associated with otosclerosis, particularly hearing loss. Call the Springfield office at 413-732-7426.