Otosclerosis natural history, complications and prognosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Complications

• Complete deafness
• Funny taste in the mouth
• Infection, dizziness, pain, or a blood clot in the ear after surgery
• Nerve damage

Prognosis

Otosclerosis gets worse without treatment. Surgery may restore at least some of your hearing. Pain and dizziness from the surgery usually go away within a few weeks.

To reduce the risk of complications after surgery:

• Do not blow your nose for 2 -3 weeks after surgery.
• Avoid people with respiratory or other infections.
• Avoid bending, lifting, or straining, which may cause dizziness.
• Avoid loud noises or sudden pressure changes, such as scuba diving, flying, or driving in the mountains until you have healed.
• If surgery does not work, you may have total hearing loss. Treatment then involves developing skills to cope with deafness, and using hearing aids to transmit sounds from the non-hearing ear to the good ear.