Educational Objective: The focus of this paper is on the changing patterns
of presentation of otosclerosis over the past 37 years, Study Design: Retro
spective chart review. Setting: Private otology practice. Patients: Randomi
zed selection of 400 patients (100 per decade) from 15,372 who underwent st
apedectomy over the past four decades. Outcome Measures: Extent of cochlear
involvement, bilaterality of disease, length of history, degree of hearing
loss, and pathological findings are noted. Results: The decreasing inciden
ce of footplates necessitating drillouts is discussed. Changing audiometric
patterns at presentation such as decreased pure-tone average hearing thres
holds and smaller air-bone gaps are also reviewed. Conclusion: This review
demonstrates the changing patterns of presentation of otosclerosis over the
past 37 years and will help guide the stapes surgeon into the year 2000.