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What is Stapedectomy Recovery like?

Hearing Loss | Last Active: Sep 24 11:12pm | Replies (42)

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@rinagelman49

I had Stapedectomy a little longer than one year ago, due to Otosclerosis. My operative ears now hears so well I wish I could hear less. This complication (yes, it is a complication) called Hyperacusis or hypersensitivity to the sound. Everything is heard louder than it really is, even my own voice, not to mention unloading dishes, dog barking, baby screaming, cars/track passing by... The sound changes shortly when I yawn (from roaring to hissing to booming, etc). Never experienced tinnitus after the surgery for more than a week after packing removal. Some dizziness ( more like unsteadiness has developed in a few month after the surgery, but happens less and less frequently. Doctor said it will eventually disappears by itself. My advise: when it happens, try to look strait ahead,not down to the floor. Best thing of all (from my own experience and doctor agrees)- get into the car and drive, because you only look strait and concentrate when driving.
For now, I have to use an ear plug on cotton ball to be able to attend concerts or movies. My surgeon, who is very experienced and caring, along with another colleagues are still puzzled why its still going on. This can happen, for a couple of weeks or month after Stapedectomy, but never happened in their practice for more that a year. They all attribute this to the brain adjustments, because my otosclerosis was with me for a very long time. It feels sometimes like a little progress is going on. So, we'll hope...

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Replies to "I had Stapedectomy a little longer than one year ago, due to Otosclerosis. My operative ears..."

That is very interesting. I have had Stapedectomy's in both ears, 7 years apart, also due to Otosclerosis. I remember everything being louder for a few weeks after surgery, but attributed that to my ears adjusting to the new Stapes bone which wasn't working previously or was working poorly for some unknown period of time. But I never experienced extended Hyperacusis. After a few weeks my 2 ears were sounding very similar.

Then my 2nd stapes bone collapsed and I had to get the Stapedectomy in that ear. Same thing - louder in the new ear for a few weeks then the 2 ears seemed to sound the same. The only issue was I had some clicking in the 2nd ear. Doc had to go back in - turns out there was some scar tissue. Since then no problem until recently (10 years later). Now my left ear has deteriorated with word recognition so much that they are evaluating me for a CI. With Hearing Loss it's always something!