otosclerosis

Irregular ossification (bone formation) of the ossicles in the middle ear, especially the stapes, causing hearing loss.

This is one of the causes of a conductive hearing loss. The ossification damages the ability of the ossicles (bones) in the middle ear to "conduct" the sound across the eustachian tube from the ear drum to the cochlea.

The condition is hereditary with the cause unknown. It is usually first daignosed between the ages of 11 and 30, and affects women twice as much as men. Surgical removal of the stapes, with insertion of a graft and prosthesis can ususally restore normal hearing.

Thanks to suzanne brahan for suggesting this term.

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