title: Otosclerosis. Treating progressive hearing loss in young adults.
abstract: When a patient presents with bilateral progressive hearing loss and has a family history of hearing loss, otosclerosis should be placed high on the list of possible causes. Primary care physicians should determined whether the hearing loss is conductive or sensorineural with otologic examination and tuning-fork evaluation. Unless there is an obvious reversible cause for the progressive hearing loss, the patient should be referred to an otolaryngologist for more intensive otologic and audiologic examination. The patient's principal concern is the ability to hear and comprehend the spoken word in normal circumstances. Fortunately, most patients can be rehabilitated with surgery or a hearing aid. Fluoride treatment may have a significant role in preventing further hearing loss from otosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, Ca 90057.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Nassif
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: House
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004423:Ear / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013201:Stapes Surgery
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides