The difference between myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis is that in myringosclerosis, the calcium only deposits on the eardrum, and in tympanosclerosis, calcium deposits appear on the eardrum and the middle ear structures.
This article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment of myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis.
Symptoms of Myringosclerosis and Tympanosclerosis
Myringosclerosis usually does not cause any symptoms, but it can sometimes be associated with a very mild conductive hearing loss. Hearing loss is more common with tympanosclerosis.
Depending on the situation, hearing loss caused by myringosclerosis or tympanosclerosis can often be reversed entirely or significantly improved with treatment.
Causes
Myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis have been considered possible autoimmune diseases.
The eardrum is normally thin and translucent. With these conditions, it may thicken, harden, and lose its flexibility. Chronic inflammation in the middle ear may cause these changes.
Conditions that may contribute to the development of myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis include:
Chronic fluid in the ear also called otitis media with effusion (OME), serous otitis media (SOM), and glue ear Secretory otitis media Untreated or chronic middle ear infections The surgical placement of ventilation tubes (also called myringotomy tubes or ear grommets) In rare cases, trauma such as severe or repeated ruptured eardrum
Diagnosis
An otolaryngologist, a doctor, specializing in diagnosing and treating ear, nose, and throat disorders, diagnoses these conditions.
Exam
A healthcare provider will consider your medical history. They will want to know about any history of fluid in the ears, infections, or ear surgeries.
Next, they will most likely examine your ears using an otoscope. An otoscope is a tool that is inserted into your ear canal and allows the healthcare provider to view your eardrum. It is not uncomfortable.
Hearing Tests
If your doctor notices white patches or eardrum thickening, they may use a hearing test to confirm a diagnosis. Conductive hearing loss may indicate tympanosclerosis.
A tympanometry test uses a device called a tympanometer. It looks and feels like an otoscope, and it delivers sound waves into the middle ear. These sound waves bounce off the eardrum, and their return is charted as a tympanogram graph.
A flat tympanogram can be indicative of a rigid, un-mobile eardrum. It can give false results if you talk, swallow, yawn, sneeze, or open your mouth during the test.
Treatment
Myringosclerosis is usually asymptomatic, and doesn’t typically require treatment. Tympanosclerosis may need treatment if hearing loss is significant.
The treatment for tympanosclerosis is surgery to repair the eardrum and any other middle ear structures involved. A surgeon will remove the hardened (sclerotic) portions of the eardrum during surgery. They may also have to repair the middle ear bones (ossicular chain).
A complication that sometimes occurs with tympanosclerosis is when the stapes (the third bone in the middle ear) become fixed. When this happens, the stapes can’t move and therefore can’t transmit sound. In these circumstances, a surgeon will perform a stapedectomy or stapedotomy.
If the hearing loss does not entirely resolve following the surgery, a device such as a hearing aid may be helpful.
Summary
Myringosclerosis and tympanosclerosis are conditions that occur when there is calcium buildup on the eardrum. Myringosclerosis doesn’t cause symptoms, but tympanosclerosis may result in hearing loss. Researchers believe these conditions may be autoimmune diseases. No treatment is necessary for myringosclerosis. However, surgery and hearing aids might help tympanosclerosis.
A Word From Verywell
If you are experiencing hearing loss, the cause could be tympanosclerosis. The only way to know for sure is to see an otolaryngologist for a diagnosis. They will do a simple exam to view your eardrum. They will also perform some hearing tests to determine the extent of hearing damage. The good news is that tympanosclerosis is treatable, and often people can have restored hearing after surgical treatment or with hearing aids.
