Surgical removal of hearing aid ear mold impression material from the middle ear: a report of two cases

Abstract

A hearing aid effectively improves the quality of life of hard-of-hearing people, but complications after obtaining an ear mold to facilitate fitting the hearing aid have been reported. We treated two patients in whom we surgically removed ear mold impression material from the middle ear. The first patient was a 78-year-old man with persistent right otorrhea. He was initially diagnosed with chronic otitis media and was treated conservatively. The otorrhea did not resolve. Further examination revealed a foreign body in the tympanic cavity, which was identified as impression material based on material analysis. The patient then remembered that a mold for a hearing aid ear had been prepared for him about 15 years ago. Tympanoplasty was performed successfully. The second patient (case 2) was an 84-year-old woman who had undergone canal wall down tympanoplasty. Impression material was introduced into her left ear but could not be removed. Foreign body extraction was performed through an incision behind the ear, with the impression material found embedded in the mastoid cavity. It was successfully removed. In both cases, we considered it crucial to obtain the patient’s medical history, thoroughly examine the tympanic membrane, be aware of the risk associated with hearing aid fitting in a postoperative ear, and avoid injecting impression material to aid hearing aid fitting without careful consideration.

Keywords

• hearing aid
• ear mold
• impression material
• chronic otitis media
• middle ear foreign body