This project involves an investigation of the audiograms of patients who have had stapes surgery at the RVEEH. Improved air-conduction hearing and deceased air-bone gaps after successful stapes surgery is often achieved, but the effects on the bone-conduction hearing are not as well known.
The results of this study will be used as a baseline measure for another study to beginning next year which proposes to investigate protecting bone-conduction hearing with drug therapy during stapes surgery. It is therefore important to first have accurate data on any bone-conduction hearing changes post-stapes surgery to determine if the proposed clinical drug trial proceeds.