When small areas of hard bone (sclerosis) are laid down around the smallest middle ear bone, the Stapes, it results in a conductive hearing loss. If the sclerosis spreads to the inner ear, it may result in a sensorineural hearing loss.

Stapedectomy surgery for otosclerosis involves using a laser to remove the stapes ear bone and replace it with an artificial one. This surgery usually reverses the conductive hearing loss.