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We know hearing loss can be stressful. Our compassionate healthcare providers do more than treat your condition. We also care for the whole you — and make sure you get the support you need.
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Your ears have tiny bones that constantly “remodel” themselves with new growth. But sometimes, things go awry, and these bones don’t move the way they used to.
If this happens, the new bone tissue hardens, and sound waves can’t reach your inner ear as easily anymore (conductive hearing loss). This otosclerosis can cause mild to severe hearing loss, depending on how stiff the bones are. The amount of hearing loss will determine whether a hearing aid will help or if you’ll need surgery to remove the hardened bone.
The experts at Cleveland Clinic are here for you. Our experienced otolaryngology team can confirm you have otosclerosis. Then, we’ll craft a personalized treatment plan. Our goal? To help you get the best hearing results and live your best life.
We know hearing loss can be stressful. Our compassionate healthcare providers do more than treat your condition. We also care for the whole you — and make sure you get the support you need.
Cleveland Clinic’s providers use the latest treatments and evidence-based medicine. We work hard to give you the highest quality care and the best possible treatment results. Meet our team.
We have one of the largest audiology programs in the U.S. Our audiologists, otolaryngologists, nurse practitioners and speech-language pathologists work together to meet your needs.
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Both of your ears have three tiny bones (ossicles) that help move sound vibrations to your inner ear. These bones constantly change shape (at a microscopic level). When you have otosclerosis, it means this bone growth is abnormal. This can make the bones stiffer than usual or even stuck. And that can make it harder to hear things.
Otosclerosis usually happens in both ears, but sometimes, this condition can cause hearing loss in only one. You may also notice other symptoms like:
If you’re experiencing any of these, it’s time to get things checked out.
When you come to your appointment, you’ll want to be ready to answer questions about what’s been going on, like:
Your provider will look inside your ears and run hearing tests. You may also get orders for a CT scan. This imaging test helps your provider see if the bones and tissue inside your ear are growing abnormally. If they are, you likely have otosclerosis.
Our team-based approach gives you highly personalized care — and the best possible results. We build a care team of providers from different specialties based on your diagnosis and needs. Your otosclerosis care team may have:
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations in Northeast Ohio and Florida.
Your otosclerosis treatment depends on how much abnormal bone growth is in your ears — and where it is.
You may be able to manage otosclerosis-related hearing loss with hearing aids. These devices can amplify sounds so you can hear them better. But they can’t keep otosclerosis from progressing. Sometimes, a special bone conduction hearing aid is an option. This device sends sound waves through the bone and bypasses the hearing bones.
Your care team may decide otosclerosis surgery (stapedectomy) is best for you. This involves placing a prosthetic in your middle ear. The prosthesis takes the place of one of your hearing bones and lets sound travel to your inner ear without being affected. If you have otosclerosis in both ears, our team will repair one ear at a time.
If otosclerosis has affected your inner ear, your provider may recommend a cochlear implant. The cochlea is the part of your inner ear that takes sound waves and converts them into a signal that can be sent to your brain. But sometimes with otosclerosis, the machinery that converts sound waves into an electrical signal is lost. A cochlear implant is a device that directly stimulates your inner ear and sends sound waves to your brain. These surgically implanted devices can help you hear when hearing aids no longer help.
Changes in your hearing are a common symptom of otosclerosis. While it often develops slowly, hearing loss in one or both ears is a sign that it’s time to see a healthcare provider. You can count on our expert otolaryngology team to find out what’s going on so you can confidently move forward with treatment.
Getting an appointment with one of our otosclerosis experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
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