A Cure for Conductive Hearing Loss

“Joint replacement of the ear” is a minimally invasive procedure that can restore hearing in some patients suffering from conductive hearing loss – commonly caused by otosclerosis. According to Dr. Aftab Patni, medical director of the Vestibular Rehabilitation Center at Florida Hospital, “a joint replacement of the ear is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that replaces the damaged stapes bone with a stapes implant. This procedure almost immediately restores the ear’s conductive ability, and therefore, hearing.”

What is Otosclerosis?

Otosclerosis, a common genetic condition, causes the stapes bone in one or both ears to calcify (or harden) and become stuck in place. This impairs the stapes ability to vibrate, so sound vibrations are unable to travel through to the inner ear and hearing becomes impaired.

Advantages of the Stapes Implant Procedure

Compared to hearing aids, stapes implants offer a permanent surgical correction that can immediately bypass otosclerosis by replacing the calcified stapes bone with a prosthesis. This results in more natural sound because it restores the middle ear’s conductive ability.

Dr. Patni emphasizes that the stapes implant procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, like Lasik surgery of the eyes, and generally takes under an hour to complete.

What to Expect After a Stapes Implant Procedure

“We have a very high success rate in restoring patients’ hearing long term,” says Dr. Patni. He goes on to explain that while there is some healing time, just like any surgical procedure, most patients notice an immediate improvement in their hearing after the procedure and experience progressively better hearing within weeks.

Hope for Hearing Loss

Dr. Patni concludes, “Don’t assume that there is no hope to restore your hearing and quality of life. Hearing loss isn’t always about hearing aids. We offer some of the most advanced treatment options to restore hearing.”

Article courtesy of AdventHealth

About Dr. Aftab H. Patni

Dr. Aftab H. Patni joined The Ear, Nose, Throat and Plastic Surgery Associates in 2004 and focuses on otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery.