Otosclerosis and vestibular dysfunction.

Vestibular dysfunction associated with otosclerosis has been observed for many years. In a recent clinical study of patients exhibiting progressive sensorineural hearing loss of unknown origin, it was demonstrated that approximately 50% of the cases had cochlear otosclerosis/otospongiosis as the most probable cause for the hypacusis. Of these, approximatley 55% had vestibular symptoms. In the present study, the effect of sodium fluoride therapy in this group of patients is analyzed. It will be demonstrated that such therapy is beneficial not only in controlling the progressive sensorineural hearing loss but also the symptoms of vestibular dysfunction in patients with cochlear otosclerosis (otospongiosis).