What type of hearing loss is associated with otosclerosis with fixed stapes footplate?

What type of hearing loss is associated with otosclerosis with fixed stapes footplate?

• A. Conductive
• B. Sensorineural
• C. Mixed
• D. Central

Answer: (A)

Fixation of the stapes footplate in otosclerosis disrupts the mechanical transmission of sound through the middle ear, producing a conductive hearing loss. When the stapes cannot move freely at the oval window, energy transfer to the inner ear is impeded, so air conduction thresholds rise while the inner ear (bone conduction) tends to remain preserved, especially early on. This creates an air-bone gap on testing. A typical related finding is the Carhart notch, a dip in bone-conduction thresholds around 2 kHz due to the stapes stiffness, not inner-ear damage. Sensorineural hearing loss would involve inner ear or nerve pathology and would show reduced bone conduction; central causes affect brain pathways. Mixed would imply both conductive and sensorineural components, which isn’t the usual presentation for a fixed stapes footplate.

Fixation of the stapes footplate in otosclerosis disrupts the mechanical transmission of sound through the middle ear, producing a conductive hearing loss. When the stapes cannot move freely at the oval window, energy transfer to the inner ear is impeded, so air conduction thresholds rise while the inner ear (bone conduction) tends to remain preserved, especially early on. This creates an air-bone gap on testing. A typical related finding is the Carhart notch, a dip in bone-conduction thresholds around 2 kHz due to the stapes stiffness, not inner-ear damage. Sensorineural hearing loss would involve inner ear or nerve pathology and would show reduced bone conduction; central causes affect brain pathways. Mixed would imply both conductive and sensorineural components, which isn’t the usual presentation for a fixed stapes footplate.