The incidence of otosclerosis in the general population.

The incidence of clinical otosclerosis in the general population of Lithuania (USSR) was recorded from December 1961 to May 1970. A total of 974 otosclerotic individuals were found during this period, 27.2% of whom were males and 72.8%, females. In the majority of these patients, the clinical diagnosis of otosclerosis was confirmed at operation. The incidence of clinical otosclerosis in the population was found to be about 0.1%. The ratio of incidence of clinical:histological otosclerosis in the population investigated is assumed to be 1:4. The age period at risk for clinical otosclerosis is between 16 and 50 years, the greatest age period at risk being 20 to 40 years.