Ear Treatments

What is Stapedectomy

A stapedectomy is surgery to treat hearing loss caused by otosclerosis. This condition affects your hearing by damaging your stape, a tiny U-shaped bone in your middle ear. Your stape helps you hear by sending sound waves from your middle ear to your inner ear. In a stapedectomy, healthcare providers replace your damaged stape with an artificial device.

What is stapedectomy surgery?

Healthcare providers perform stapedectomy (stay-puh-dek-tuh-mee) surgery to restore your hearing. Stapedectomies repair middle ear damage caused by otosclerosis. This condition damages your stape, which is a tiny U-shaped bone in your middle ear that sends sound waves to your inner ear. Healthcare providers treat otosclerosis by replacing your stape with an artificial device.

What are the otosclerosis symptoms?

If you have otosclerosis, you may notice that over time you’re having trouble hearing people when they whisper. You may have trouble hearing low-pitched sounds. You may be able to hear better when there’s lots of background noise. Some people with otosclerosis start speaking more quietly because they think their voice is too loud. Other possible otosclerosis symptoms include:

• Balance problems
• Vertigo
• Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
• Dizziness