Is the stapes surgery for otosclorosis worth it?

Hi, I have otosclerosis bilaterally. I’m now 52. I had a stapes implant in 1996 in 1 ear. It improved my hearing tremendously. The surgery was so helpful I never needed hearing aids. After 20+ years I decided to get a hearing aid in the ear that has the implant. That ear is still my better ear for hearing. I wish I had done the surgery in both ears in 1996.

Back in 2011 I had a Stapedotomy not a Stapedectomy ( a stapedectomy typically removes the entire stapes footplate and has it replaced with a micro prosthesis. During a stapedotomy, a prosthesis is positioned within the precisely-made and measured hole that is created in the footplate of the stapes bone.). I just needed it in one ear and my hearing improved immediately and I had no problems.
I have read that the issue is finding an experienced doctor in this procedure. Originally there were a lot of people needing this procedure but with measles vaccine (measles thought to be one of the causes), there are now far fewer cases.
I would only want an experienced surgeon for this procedure. At first I refused to do it - I was still working and was concerned about potential complications, so I just got a hearing aid in one ear. When I retired, I fortunately moved close to a well know center that trained other doctors in the procedure.

I had a stapedectomy 20 years ago because my Stapes bone had collapsed and I had no hearing in the left ear. Sound couldn't get through the little opening to the cochlea. So for me it was a necessity. The Stapes surgery allowed me to hear again in that ear at a moderate to severe level. With powerful hearing aids I was able to keep working as a teacher. My other ear collapsed 5 years later and I had the surgery again. So the surgery allows the opening to the cochlea to be clear again so that the new stapes bone can vibrate sounds through it. However my Otosclerosis also caused sensorineural hearing loss in my inner ear, which never gets better - it just keeps deteriorating until someone discovers how to regenerate the hairs in the cochlea . But the surgeries allowed me to hear (with assistance) for 20 more years. Busy last year the sensorineural loss in my left ear got too great and I received a cochlear implant. But with the advances in hearing aid technology and assistive listening devices like the Roger On plus captioning apps, living with the hearing aids for 20 years was a good result for me. Now I have to relearn ow to hear in my left ear with the implant.

Only your ENT or surgeon can tell you whether your stapes bone is damaged enough now to replace. Insurance would want to know that as well. Good luck Mike M

I had the surgery for my stapes a few months after having radiation (gamma knife surgery) for my acoustic neuroma (tumor) on my right side. I wish I knew about the stapes surgery many years before I got this tumor. I would have had both ears done. (They wouldn't operate on my other ear due to surgical protocols. ) The surgery did help, but the hearing loss has been so profound, even with hearing aids, it's a bit disappointing. I'm turning 70, so if I would have known about this surgery and had this done many years ago, it might have made a bigger difference. I would encourage people -- especially younger people -- with otosclerosis to consider stapes surgery. The amazing doctors at Mayo are great at explaining your options and potential outcomes.

I had a stapedectomy 2 and half ears ago due to otosclerosis. My left ear hearing was completely restored. Unfortunately, I got very ugly complication - hyperacusis. It is a condition when you heat everything on that side enormously loud. Two very experienced and reputable doctors (ENT surgeon and neurootologist) trying to fight this situation, but so far unsuccessfully. It's not Meenier, and not eustachian tube dysfunction. I have to use a cotton ball or ear plug outside and in many cases indoor. Sometimes even Apple EAR Pods. They say that it takes time for the brain to adjust to the new sound quality. Nothing was found wrong with my brain for this matter on MRI though. And it's still going on for 2and half years. And my surgeon is admitting, that this is a first case in his more than 30 years of doing this surgeries.
So, my advice ( if you care)- think about this...

I had a stapedectomy 4 weeks ago. Unfortunately it has resulted in sensorineural hearing loss and I am now completely deaf in the operated ear with little chance at this stage of seeing any improvement. I have also been left with vertigo and am unable to work. What has happened to me is rare, but worth knowing it is a possibility. I knew there was a chance that I would lose my hearing but I didn't realise I may be left in a state that I'm unable to work for a prolonged period of time.