The Facts

• There are three parts of the ear; outer, middle and inner. Otosclerosis usually affects a small bone, called the stapes, in the inner ear.
  
  

Causes

• Although the exact cause of otosclerosis is unknown, it may be passed from parent to child. Viral infections and pregnancy may also cause the disease.
  
  

Symptoms

• The main symptom of otosclerosis disease is gradual hearing loss. An affected person may also experience balance trouble and dizziness. Ringing, buzzing or other noises in the ears, a condition called tinnitus, can also occur.
  
  

Risk Factors

• Otosclerosis disease most often affects Caucasian, middle-aged women and usually starts to develop in a person's early 20's.
  
  

Treatment

• A common treatment for otosclerosis is a stapedectomy, a surgical procedure in which the stapes bone is replaced with a prosthetic device. Hearing aids can also help if the hearing loss is only mild.