Allergies to ear moulds. A study of reactions encountered by hearing aid users to some ear mould materials

In recent years, a number of people have encountered some form of otitis externa due, it was suspected, to the use of acrylic ear moulds. The intention of this study was to discover whether the reaction was purely allergic or if it was due to various other causes. Having eliminated reactions due to ill-fitting ear moulds, friction sores or lack of hygiene, a study of 25 people with ear mould problems was carried out. These consisted of three groups; those who had no other ear or skin trouble, those who had existing otitis externa and/or other skin trouble, and those who suffered with ear infections or were prone to ear infections. A sample of the population who did not wear hearing aids was taken as a control.