Otosclerosis: What It Is, How It Affects Hearing, and What You Can Do

When otosclerosis, a condition where abnormal bone growth in the middle ear blocks sound transmission. Also known as stapedial otosclerosis, it doesn’t cause pain, but it slowly steals your ability to hear clearly—especially low voices and whispers. This isn’t just aging. It’s your body building extra bone around the stapes bone, one of the three tiny bones in the middle ear that moves sound from the eardrum to the inner ear, locking it in place like a rusted hinge.

Most people with otosclerosis notice it first when they can’t hear their partner across the room, or when they have to turn up the TV louder than everyone else. It often starts in one ear, then spreads. Women are more likely to get it, especially after pregnancy. Genetics play a big role—if a parent had it, your risk jumps. It’s not caused by loud music or ear infections, but it does get worse over time if untreated.

There are two main paths forward: hearing aids or surgery. Hearing aids amplify sound, helping you catch what the stapes bone can’t pass along. But if the bone growth is advanced, a stapedectomy, a procedure where the fixed stapes is replaced with a tiny prosthetic can restore hearing in most cases. For those who aren’t candidates for surgery, a cochlear implant, a device that bypasses the middle ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve may be an option. Medications like sodium fluoride are sometimes used to slow bone growth, but they don’t reverse it.

The posts below aren’t just about otosclerosis itself—they cover what happens next. You’ll find real stories about adjusting to hearing loss, how to talk to your doctor about treatment options, what to expect after surgery, and how supplements or natural remedies might help with tinnitus or dizziness that often comes with it. Some posts compare hearing aids, others explain how to manage communication at work or home when your hearing fades. There’s even advice on how to avoid interactions between common medications and hearing health. This isn’t theory. It’s what people actually deal with—and what works.