Otosclerosis

Also known as: eye movement disorders, strabismus, nystagmus.

What is Otosclerosis in children?

In a normal ear, the bones in the middle and inner portion (the ossicles) are flexible in order to promote good hearing. Otosclerosis is a disease that causes these bones to fuse together in a hardened mass that hampers good hearing.


What causes otosclerosis?

The precise cause of otosclerosis isn’t entirely clear. There appears to be a genetic component to the disease. It also tends to occur after exposure to a particular virus.


What are the symptoms of otosclerosis?

The primary symptom of otosclerosis is progressive hearing loss. This hearing loss is gradual, so the child may not notice it until it’s far along in its progression. Dizziness is another possible symptom of the disease.


What are otosclerosis treatment options?

For mild cases of otosclerosis, the disease may be treated with hearing aids to improve hearing, or by doing nothing. Surgical treatment is also effective for more severe cases of otosclerosis. Taking an oral supplement known as sodium fluoride is another treatment sometimes used for otosclerosis, though this has not been proven to be effective.


Reviewed by: Dr. Brian Ho, MD

This page was last updated on: March 19, 2019 03:53 PM