Symptoms of Otosclerosis Hearing Loss
Otosclerosis in New York City: What Are the Symptoms?
Otosclerosis affects more than 3 million Americans. And while experts aren’t sure exactly what causes this type of hearing loss disorder they know that it usually starts when you’re young. In fact, you can develop otosclerosis progressive hearing loss between the ages of 10 to 45 but most people develop it when they are in their 20s. In order for you to hear well, your stapes bone has to vibrate. When you have otosclerosis a small bone in your middle ear – usually the stapes bone – gets stuck in place which keeps it from vibrating and prohibits sound from traveling from your middle ear to your inner ear. If this occurs, it is crucial to be treated by highly trained professionals for otosclerosis in New York City.
Who Gets Otosclerosis?
This type of hearing loss tends to run in families. About half of the people who develop otoscleroris have a gene linked to the condition. But having the gene doesn’t guarantee that you will end up with hearing loss. On average a person with one parent who has otosclerosis will have a 25% change of developing the disorder. This jumps to 50% if both parents have otosclerosis.
While both men and women get otosclerosis, women are at higher risk. This type of hearing loss is most common with caucasians with about 10% developing otosclerosis. This condition is less common for people of Japanese and South American descent and is rare in Afrcan Americans. For most people, they start to develop symptoms in their 20s and the symptoms usually are the worst in your 30s.
Signs You Have Otosclerosis Progressive Hearing Loss
If you suffer from the following you may have otosclerosis.
- Main symptom – progressive hearing loss
It starts with not being able to hear low-pitched sounds or people whispering and worsens over time - Hearing loss that worsens over time
- Hearing loss in both ears
Only 10-15% of people with otoscleroris have it in just one ear - Dizziness or balance problems
- Sensation of ringing, roaring or buzzing in the ears known as tinnitus
If you suffer from the issues listed above there is a good chance you have otosclerosis progressive hearing loss. An official otosclerosis diagnosis should be made by a hearing specialist.
There are options when it comes to treating otosclerosis such as hearing aids for those in the earlier stages and surgical operations like a stapedectomy surgery to treat individuals with severe hearing loss.