Word recognition score changes after stapedectomy for far advanced otosclerosis.

Objective: This study aimed to examine word recognition score (WRS) changes after stapedectomy for far-advanced otosclerosis (FAO). The WRS changes were examined to determine whether they were consistent with acclimatization or recovery from auditory deprivation changes that have been seen after the restoration of sound by amplification.
Study Design: Retrospective.
Setting: Private otology practice.
Patients: A total of 24 patients were selected by including all the case in which a stapedectomy was performed within the past 10 years to improve the hearing of a severe or profoundly hearing-impaired patient with otosclerosis.
Intervention: Diagnostic.
Main Outcome Measure: Changes in WRSs.
Results: One month after surgery, the mean WRS had improved 16.5%. The WRSs continued to improve an additional 12% or more for 17 (71%) of 24 patients within 2 years after their initial postoperative hearing test. The mean WRS improvement within 2 years of the initial postoperative test was 16.2%.
Conclusions: Initial WRS changes were attributed to hearing thresholds no longer being at or beyond audiometric limits. Additional WRS changes were consistent with reports of acclimatization or recovery from auditory deprivation that have been seen after hearing aid use. The authors believe these additional WRS changes illustrate that at least some improvement in WRSs from acclimatization or auditory recovery may be fairly common after the restoration of sound. Finally, the authors believe the overall WRS improvement (32.7%) should be taken into account when considering stapedectomy for patients with FAO.