title: Effect of preoperative hearing level on success of stapes surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated functional results after stapedotomy in terms of the influence of preoperative hearing threshold.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series and chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  We classified 141 patients according to preoperative mean air-conduction threshold: 40 to 54 dB, group 1; 55 to 69 dB, group 2; and 70 to 89 dB, group 3. Speech discrimination scores also were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All groups showed significant improvement. The greatest increase in postoperative speech discrimination score was seen in group 3. Group 1 improved from moderate hearing loss (mean, 49 dB) to normal (mean, 24 dB); group 2, from moderately severe loss (mean, 61.2 dB) to mild (mean, 28 dB); and group 3, from severe loss (mean, 76.4 dB) to moderate (mean, 41.1 dB).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Success in treating otosclerosis does not depend on extent of preoperative hearing loss. Patients with severe loss improved to moderate, increasing the benefit from use of a hearing aid. The patients attained good auditory function, improving their quality of life.
authors: Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana Teaching and Medical Research Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara, Turkey. fcaylakli@yahoo.com
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Caylakli
authors: Haluk
authors: H
authors: Yavuz
authors: Cuneyt
authors: C
authors: Yilmazer
authors: Ismail
authors: I
authors: Yilmaz
authors: Levent N
authors: LN
authors: Ozluoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome