[Botulinum toxin reduces sweat-related problems for hearing aid users - a clinical study]

Excessive sweating in the head area may cause skin irritation, increased energy consumption, and functional impairment of hearing aids and semi-implantable hearing systems. This study investigated the frequency of sweat-related complaints and evaluated the effectiveness of intracutaneous Botulinumtoxin A (BoNT-A) injections for treating local hyperhidrosis in hearing aid and implant users.

In this single-center observational study, 51 users of cochlear implants, active middle ear implants, bone conduction devices, or conventional hearing aids completed a 12-item questionnaire addressing sweat production and device-related problems. Patients with severe hyperhidrosis received intracutaneous BoNT-A treatment (n = 6).

Frequent sweating in the head area was reported by 22/51 patients (43%), while 17/51 (33%) reported occasional sweating. Local skin problems occurred in 35/51 patients (69%). Increased energy consumption and impaired wearing comfort or device function were each reported by 16/51 patients (31%). All patients treated with BoNT-A reported marked symptom improvement, with no further functional impairment.

The collected data reveals a significant number of patients with sweat-related problems and suggests that increased sweat production is associated with clinically relevant impairments in some of the respondents and may lead to skin irritation and technical malfunctions of the hearing aids. Intracutaneous BoNT-A injections are an effective, safe, and practical treatment option for reducing hyperhidrosis-related complaints in this area.