Sex differences in patients with hearing impairments caused by otosclerosis

The course of hearing in the non-operated ears was examined in 112 female patients and 63 male patients with bilateral otosclerosis who had operations in one ear only. All patients had a follow-up of at least 5 years. The mean annual impairment of the air conduction thresholds in the female patients (2.0-2.5 dB/year) did not differ significantly from that of the male patients (2.0-2.3 dB/ year). At the last follow-up examination, no difference was found between the sexes in the magnitude of the air-bone gaps. However, a sensorineural component developed in the women more frequently than in the men. Although at the last examination bone conduction thresholds of the female patients were significantly worse than those of the male patients, these were not matched by age.