Stapedectomy Treatment in India

Anika Verma, a 42-year-old classical sitar...

Anika Verma, a 42-year-old classical sitar teacher from Kolkata, began noticing a gradual decline in her hearing about five years ago. The subtle nuances of her music, the delicate harmonics of her instrument, and even her students' questions started to become muffled. Her world, once rich with intricate sound, was growing quieter. A persistent ringing in her ears (tinnitus) became her constant companion. After years of attributing it to 'just getting older,' her husband insisted she see a specialist. An ENT diagnosed otosclerosis, a condition where a tiny bone in her middle ear (the stapes) had fused, preventing sound conduction. The doctor recommended a stapedectomy to replace the fixed bone with a prosthetic. Anika was terrified; the idea of surgery near her inner ear felt invasive and risky for a musician. The procedure itself, under local anesthesia, was surreal, she could hear the sounds of the surgery but felt no pain. The immediate post-op period was disorienting, with dizziness and a full, plugged sensation in her ear. But within a week, as the packing was removed, she experienced a moment of profound clarity: the rustle of her silk sari was audible again. A month later, during her first lesson post-recovery, she could distinctly hear the shimmer of a student's tanpura string. The emotional journey was from grief and fear of losing her sonic world to overwhelming gratitude and a rekindled connection to her art. The tinnitus diminished significantly, and she felt she had regained not just hearing, but a part of her identity.