Does hearing gradually decrease? Let's learn about Stapedectomy surgery! (Stapedectomy)

Do you sometimes have difficulty understanding someone speaking slowly or whispering? Do you need to turn up the volume on the TV a little more? When things like this happen little by little, we may not pay much attention to it. However, one reason for this gradual loss of hearing is a condition called otosclerosis. Don't worry, this is not dangerous. And there is a very effective treatment for this. That treatment, that is, the surgery called stapedectomy, is what we are going to talk about in this article today, very simply and in a way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is Stapedectomy?

A stapedectomy is a surgical procedure to restore hearing in your ear. It is specifically done to repair damage to the middle ear caused by the condition otosclerosis we mentioned earlier.

Imagine, there is a chain of very small bones inside our ears that help transmit sound. The last of these, the smallest, horseshoe-shaped bone, is the stapes bone. Like a hinge on a door, it is the one that vibrates sound waves and sends them to the inner ear. In otosclerosis, this stapes bone becomes fused with the surrounding bone tissue, becomes stiff, and loses its ability to move. Then the sound waves cannot travel properly, and our hearing decreases.

So, in a stapedectomy, the doctor carefully removes the stuck stapes bone and replaces it with a prosthesis that does the same job. Once this is done, sound waves can once again pass through to the inner ear without any obstruction, and your hearing will improve again.

Do I have this condition too? What are the symptoms of Otosclerosis?

You only need a stapedectomy if you have hearing loss due to otosclerosis. This is a gradual process, so you may not notice it right away. Check to see if you have any of the symptoms below.

Is this a big operation as you think?

Many people are scared when they hear the word 'operation'. But this is not as big or serious a surgery as you might think. In medicine, we usually call 'major surgery' a surgery that is performed under general anesthesia and connected to a ventilator because the patient cannot breathe on their own.

Stapedectomy surgery is often performed under local anesthesia . This means that you are conscious but do not feel any pain in the ear area. In some special cases, the doctor may decide to use general anesthesia. Therefore, this is considered a relatively simple, low-risk surgery.

What happens before the surgery?

Before you have this surgery, your doctor will perform several tests to make sure you have hearing loss.

• They will ask you questions about your medical history, such as how long you have been deaf, whether anyone in your family has had this condition, whether you have dizziness, or whether you hear ringing in your ears.
• Physical examination: The doctor will look inside your ear to check for ear infections and damage to the eardrum.
• Audiometry: This is the most important test. You will be put through a set of headphones and tested to see if you can hear sounds at different levels and frequencies. This will give you an accurate measure of the extent of your hearing loss.
• Tuning Fork Test: A tuning fork is placed near your ear and on a bone in your skull to vibrate the sound and compare it to the sound you hear. This can give you an idea of ​​whether the hearing loss is in the middle ear or not.
• Other tests: Sometimes the doctor may recommend a tympanometry test to check the function of the eardrum or a CT scan to clearly see the condition of the bones in the ear.

What exactly happens during the surgery?

The entire procedure only takes about an hour and a half to two hours. In most cases, you can go home the same evening. The steps involved in the procedure are simple:

1. Anesthesia: As we discussed earlier, the ear will be numbed or completely anesthetized so that you don't feel any pain.

2. Accessing the eardrum: The doctor uses a special microscope and very fine instruments (micro-instruments) to reach the eardrum from inside the ear. Sometimes, a very small incision may be made behind or in front of the ear.

3. Entering the middle ear: Next, the eardrum is carefully lifted slightly so as not to damage it, exposing the small bones in the middle ear.

4. Stapes replacement: Next, the stuck stapes is removed and a custom-made prosthesis is implanted in its place.

5. Completion of the surgery: Finally, the lifted eardrum is put back in place and a small bandage-like material is placed inside the ear to keep it there until it heals, completing the surgery.

What should I do after the surgery?

After surgery, you can go home once you have fully recovered from the anesthesia. It is very important to rest well for the first few days. It usually takes about 6 weeks for the ear to fully heal. There are a few things you should be aware of during this time.

Are there any risks to this surgery?

As with any surgery, there are some minor risks. But this is a surgery that has a success rate of between 80% and 90% . That means if it is done on ten people, eight or nine will have very good results. However, it is good to be aware of the very rare things that can happen.

• Dizziness: You may feel dizzy for the first few days after surgery. This usually goes away after a few days.
• Taste changes: The sense of taste on the operated side of the tongue may be temporarily reduced or altered. This also returns to normal after a few months.
• Tinnitus: Some people may experience ringing in the ears after surgery, or may experience an increase in ringing in the ears if they already have it.
• Hearing not improving: In a very small number of people, hearing may not improve as much as expected after surgery. Very rarely, hearing may even become worse than it was before.

If the surgery is unsuccessful, meaning your hearing does not improve, your doctor may recommend another surgery or advise you to use a hearing aid.

When should you see a doctor immediately?

If you develop any of the symptoms below while you are at home after surgery, call your doctor or go to the hospital immediately .