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How long does it normally take to go deaf with Otosclerosis?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Kaitlincharmed
Kaitlincharmed

I'm a 14 year old female who was diagnosed with Otosclerosis. If I have mild hearing loss in my left ear how long do you think it will take for me to go competely deaf in one ear? and also a stapedectomy was reccomened as a surgical treatment if I wanted it by my ENT specialist. She told me that it would only last about 20 years on everage (the prosthetic stapes) . Should I get this sugery in my prime when my hearing isnt that bad (20's and 30's)? Or do you think I should refrain and get it later on? I just dont want to get one, then a medical breakthough happens but since ive had a stapedectomy I cant have the treatment that can fix/cure it. 

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Mayebi
    Mayebi Kaitlincharmed

    Posted

    Hello, if it is only mild then I would wait in your case. Ask your ENT specialist how much hearing loss you have. My hearing loss is 60% in my right ear and 50% in my left and I am 48 years old and will probably do the operation because without hearing aids I can hardly hear and even with hearing aids I can't hear when someone talks to me if in another room or whispers. So that are good reasons to get it done. If you do not have these problems yet than I would wait because as you say - there might be a breakthrough which is better than the stapedectomy. I would wait myself but am very frustrated. 
  • Olizzieo
    Olizzieo Kaitlincharmed

    Posted

    Hi Kaitlin, you won't go completely deaf with Otosclerosis if it is only in your middle ear bones. The most you can go deaf is about 60dB. Your hearing loss if it is mild, would be around 30dB. There is no cure coming up in the future that will fix your Otosclerosis. The bones in your middle ear are stuck together so other than surgery, there is nothing that will change that. Stem cells and medicine can't reverse what has happened.

    Cochlear otosclerosis can make you completely deaf but I wouldn't be worrying about that at your age, if at all. Otosclerosis can be slow or rapid and no one can really tell you which yours will be until enough time has gone by to see the change.

    When looking at a hearing aid or surgery, you have to weigh up a few things. The first is that hearing aids are expensive and need replacing every 5-7 years, with warrantys on them usually only lasting 3-4 years. There is the cost of batteries, and possibly domes/ moulds or shells and wax protection. You pay for each visit to the audiologist and have to have something in your ears. Personally if your ENT thinks that now is the right time for surgery, I would prefer that. 20 years is a long time to have good hearing before needing more surgery. By then there may be longer lasting prosthetics. It depends on the cost of surgery and how you feel emotionally about having an anaesthetic and surgery. If you are unsure you could always get a second opnion. smile

    • Mayebi
      Mayebi Olizzieo

      Posted

      This puts a bit of easy on my decision as well as I want to have the surgery done in May but don't quite have the courage to make the call for the appointment :-)
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