Albrecht,1 in a paper on the constitutional factor of otosclerosis, expressed the view that heredity is the underlying cause. This is hard to prove, as the condition is usually a recessive characteristic and may pass over several generations without showing itself, and some cases apparently occur sporadically. As has been pointed out by others, it is difficult to follow the disease through generations in which the individuals are scattered and to be sure that those who are deaf are really suffering from otosclerosis. On the other hand, many people have the characteristic bony changes of otosclerosis without deafness.
Albrecht does not believe that otosclerosis is caused by endocrine disturbances, but thinks that the labyrinthine changes may be related to them. The theory that otosclerosis is caused by chronic irritation of the bone has been supported by Manasse, Lange, O. Mayer, Nager and others. The constitutional factor is as