At the annual meeting of the American Otological Society in Palm Beach, Fla, David F. Austin, MD, Austin Otologic Center, Chicago, reported on hearing restoration in ears with tympanosclerosis. Austin noted that although a third of patients with chronic ear disease exhibit tympanosclerosis, in less than 10% of these is the extent of involvement sufficient to influence the surgical procedure or result. In almost 90% of patients with clinically significant tympanosclerosis, the ossicular chain is the site of involvement; stapes fixation is present in half these patients. If attic fixation is found, the incus is removed; amputation of the malleus may also be necessary to achieve a mobile malleus handle. If tympanosclerosis involves the stapes and oval window region, it is often necessary to transect the crura and remove the lateral disease en bloc. Using various ossicular reconstructive procedures, Austin was able to achieve hearing results that were comparable with