pathology of otosclerosis

Otosclerosis 1S simply defined as localized lesionof the labyrinthin capsule and of the stapedial footplate.Otosclerosis isperson in everya200very cornmonsuffers fromdisease. Probablythe affection. Inmany cases otosclerosis is present, unsuspected, in thelabyrinth capsule and only becomes manifest when it involvesthe hearing mechanism.Aetiology: The disease is much more cornmon in thefemale than the male sex. There is marked hereditarytendency to otosclerosis in certain families, and 1nenarly 50 per cent of cases a history of deafness inthe family can be obtained. The disease usually becomesmanifest between the ages of 18 and 30, but it may beginearlier. There appears to be a close relationship betweenthe onset of deafness and the onset of puberty ortheoccurrence of pregnancy.