Stapedotomy

Hearing Improvement Following Stapedectomy

Hearing improvement may or may not be noticeable at surgery. The hearing fluctuates following surgery, in a few hours after operation due to swelling in the ear. Improvement in hearing may be apparent within 3 weeks of surgery. Maximum hearing, however, is obtained in approximately three months.

The degree of hearing improvement depends on how the ear heals. In over 96% of patients the ear heals perfectly and hearing improvement is as anticipated. In some, the hearing improvement is only partial or temporary. In these cases, the ear usually may be re-operated upon with a good chance of success.

In less than 1% of the cases, the hearing may be further impaired due to the development of scar tissue or infection.

In less than 0.5% complications in the healing process may be so great due to blood vessel spasm, irritation of the inner ear, or a leak of inner ear fluid (fistula), that there is severe loss of hearing in the operated ear, to the extent that one may not be able to benefit from a hearing aid in that ear.

When further loss of hearing occurs in the operated ear, head noise may be more pronounced. Unsteadiness may persist for some time. For this reason, the poorer hearing ear is usually selected for surgery.

However these complications are extremely rare.

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