A gradually progressing disease, otosclerosis is an ailment that is related to hearing impairment. Also, it sometimes is confused with vertigo as the symptoms have a fine line to share.
Otosclerosis is a progression of the development of soft bone growth in the middle ear. This is indeed a disease that progresses as time elapses. It sets foot during early adulthood, its victims predominantly being women. Otosclerosis is found to be a hereditary problem. To name the most prominent symptoms, giddiness and a sensation of ringing in the ears are the ones that have a gory impact on the individual’s mundane functioning.
Indicants of Otosclerosis
Tinnitus
Tinnitus hearing loss is an ailment in which the ear suffers the brunt and there is a funny sensation in the ear. It is as though there are bells perpetually ringing in the ears. This may be an irritating and patience testing symptom for one to endure. This could cause the individual to have impaired hearing ability. It is through this that the sounds are gradually blocked leading to partial deafness.
Failure of Response
As this is a disease that is hereditary in nature and has its roots in genetic transfers, it may be found in children as well. It is when children hear less, that they fail to respond to cues given to them by their guardians or parents. The most prominent symptom to observe is when the child does not respond when his name is called repeatedly, does not waver his voice volume even when he is told that he is being too loud. At this point of time, children need to be helped. Avoid scolding them. Make sure that you are vigilant enough to catch the real culprit in time.
Dizziness
You may often feel lightheaded. There are times when you may suddenly feel that the world is rotating at an accelerated speed. You suddenly feel the need to grab something and seat yourself to prevent a fall. This is a sign that shares a connective thread being a dominant symptom of vertigo as well. There is headache and a feeling of yourself being swirled around even when you lie in the same position for hours on end.
Inability to Hear Sounds that are Low Pitched
This sign is generally ignored as one may not suspect being afflicted by otosclerosis. However, it has been observed that many are unable to grasp sounds and voices that are low pitched and are also not able to decipher and understand what is whispered to them due to the tone.
Better Hearing in Noisy Environment
It has been diagnosed that people are able to hear better when they are in a noisy environment rather than when they are in an environment that is calm and does not invite a lot of noise.
Hearing Loss
Gradually it is felt that the ears are not responding to sounds and the ability to ear is almost diminishing. The sounds that the child or adult may hear may diminish as time elapses. Thus the quality of the sound is affected.
Treatment for Otosclerosis
Before the treatment begins, there are certain tests that have to be performed to evaluate the area and the extent of damage sustained. An ENT specialist will ask you certain questions that are related to the condition and the symptoms that you endure. It is your duty to let the specialist know about the symptoms in detail. A Rinne test is conducted to decipher the damage that the bone has endured, as well as the anatomy of the soft bone that has erupted in the middle ear. Treatment commences only after the diagnosis is confirmed.
The treatment may consist of the individual wearing hearing aids that may help him hear better with an enhanced clarity of voice and sounds. Surgery may be recommended when the hearing loss is at an advanced stage. It has been observed that if the condition is left untreated, total deafness may be the culminating result. If the condition does not improve with the use of hearing aids or surgery a CT scan is conducted to evaluate if there are other inert reasons that are causing the condition to stay stagnant in nature or deteriorate further.
With the symptoms and treatment options for otosclerosis aforementioned, one is sure to be well informed about the condition. This article is a navigational procedure to help you consult a medical professional and should by no means be interpreted as a supplement to your doctor’s advice. The reins of the final words are held by the medical practitioner only.
