title: Hearing rehabilitation counseling for patients with otosclerosis-related hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To standardize preoperative counseling for stapedectomy candidates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative and postoperative hearing thresholds of 54 patients (55 stapedectomies) were retrospectively recorded. Patients (age range, 17-67 yr) were divided into 3 groups that differed significantly in their mean preoperative air conduction (AC) pure-tone averages (PTA) (up to 50, 50-70, and 70-90 dB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of the gap between the mean hearing thresholds achieved postoperatively and the target threshold (normal hearing) in the 3 groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative and postoperative AC thresholds, bone-conduction (BC) thresholds, and air-bone gap at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 Hz.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the group with a mean preoperative AC below 50 dB had excellent postoperative results and achieved normal hearing thresholds. In the group with a mean preoperative AC of 50 to 70 dB, the postoperative results were good, but normal hearing thresholds were not achieved. Postoperative results in the third group were within the range of moderate hearing loss, allowing these patients to use hearing aids much more successfully than preoperatively. In each of the 3 groups, mean group differences between the preoperative and the postoperative values of AC-PTA thresholds, BC-PTA thresholds, and air-bone gap were statistically significant. Comparisons between each pairing of the stratified groups also yielded statistically significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preoperative AC-PTA threshold value can be viewed as a convenient, valid, and standardized basis for better informed and more comprehensive counseling of stapedectomy candidates with regard to options for hearing rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. michal.luntz@b-zion.org.il
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luntz
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yehudai
authors.forename: Tova
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Most
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D057234:Preoperative Period; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult