A more accurate term for this is otospongiosis, which means spongy bone. This disorder often occurs in the bones, between middle and the inner ear. The stapes is a tiny middle ear bone that transmits sound waves by banging on another area, like a stick on a drum creates sound.
Many people are unaware they have otosclerosis.
When it affects the inner ear, nerve deafness and dizziness may result. One or both ears may be affected. It is almost always accompanied by ringing in the ear, which is called tinnitus. About one million people in the U.S. are affected by this hereditary ear disorder. It may occur in childhood, but hearing loss does not occur until a person is 20 to 40 years old.