MCQ MAHE 2000 ENT Answer 01

The correct answer is A

Otosclerosis is a primary disease of the otic capsule and the ossicles. It is not known to occur outside the human temporal bone. It is characterized by a progressive hearing loss that may be conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. Histologically, it is seen as abnormal resorption and then deposition of bone in the labyrinthine capsule and middle ear. Otosclerosis is an important cause of auditory and, to a lesser extent, vestibular symptoms, and both can be treated effectively in most cases.

Patients can present with no measurable hearing or with an air conduction threshold of 95 to 100 dB. It is important to consider otosclerosis in these patients as they can obtain serviceable aided hearing after corrective surgery. Sheehy pointed out clues to this diagnosis as: a positive family history with gradual progression of hearing loss starting in early life; paracusis noted in an earlier stage of hearing loss; present or previous wearing of a bone conduction hearing aid; and a previous audiogram demonstrating a measurable air-bone gap.

Patients will often have low-volume speech. Because of the conductive nature of their hearing loss, they perceive there voice as louder than it actually is. As can occur in other forms of conductive hearing loss, patients with otosclerosis will sometimes report improved hearing in the presence of background noise (opposite of those with high frequency SNHL). This is known as the paracusis of Willis. It occurs because the CHL reduces the volume of the back ground noise, and improves the ability to hear someone who is speaking directly to them with a higher volume to overcome the back ground noise.

Category: MAHE 2000 MCQs