Quality of hearing and quality of life in otosclerosis patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quality of hearing and quality of life in otosclerosis patients after stapes surgery
IRAS ID
181402
Contact name
Harry Powell
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Otosclerosis is a condition distinguished by abnormal bone resorption and new bone formation within the middle and inner ear (Karosi & Sziklai, 2010). There is a reported prevalence of 2.2% from the only population-based study in the UK (Browning & Gatehouse, 1992).
Otosclerotic bone formation around the oval window leads to progressive fixation of the stapes footplate (the innermost of the 3 hearing bones), which causes a conductive hearing loss (CHL). This occurs because normal transmission of sound energy through the middle ear is impeded. The disease may also spread into the cochlea (inner ear) damaging the fine structures and eventually leading to severe or profound mixed hearing loss. This is known as far-advanced otosclerosis (FAO).
Surgery, in the form of stapedectomy (removal of the stapes), stapedotomy (making a hole in the footplate) and insertion of a prosthesis is well established as an effective management option for the disease. The prosthesis enables transmission of mechanical energy into the cochlea when the footplate is fixed / no longer moves due to otosclerosis. In successful surgery the CHL is diminished and the hearing improves. Rehabilitation, in the form of hearing aid amplification is an alternative management option and may also be required after surgery if there is ongoing mixed (conductive and inner ear) hearing loss.
There is a limited evidence base to support the effectiveness of these management options beyond comparison of pre and post-operative audiometric (hearing test) data, with evaluation of the air-bone gap (ABG) being the commonest outcome measure used. Despite audiometric data being a good standard measure of hearing thresholds, it does not actually present an accurate display of how a patient is managing in the real world, within day-to-day complex listening environments. Even with successful surgery the quality of the sound in different situations may still be compromised with consequent effect on their quality of life.
In this study we aim to explore the patients’ perceptions of their hearing and hearing related quality of life after stapes surgery.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0319
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion