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Foreign body in the middle ear, a hearing aid complication
S Shashinder1, I P Tang, P Velayutham
1University Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|March 3, 2009
Summary
An accidental ear impression material entry into a child's middle ear during hearing aid fitting required surgical removal. This case highlights a rare complication during pediatric audiology procedures.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Audiology
- Medical Device Complications
Background:
- A pediatric patient presented with moderate to severe bilateral mixed hearing loss, necessitating hearing aid intervention.
- The standard procedure for hearing aid fitting involves creating custom ear molds via impression material.
Observation:
- During the ear mold impression process for a 12-year-old boy, the impression material inadvertently entered the right middle ear space.
- This unexpected event posed a challenge to the planned hearing rehabilitation.
Findings:
- The ear mold impression material was successfully and percutaneously removed from the middle ear under general anesthesia.
- The removal procedure was performed without immediate reported complications.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of meticulous technique during ear impression procedures in pediatric audiology.
- Awareness of such potential complications is crucial for audiologists and otolaryngologists managing pediatric hearing loss.
- Further vigilance may be required to prevent similar incidents in audiological practice.
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