Summary
The hearing aid is extremely important to the deaf. A small number have difficulty
in retaining the device because the ear is prominent or cup-shaped. This report describes
11 children whose ear shape was modified to improve hearing aid retention and one
adult in whom an over set back ear was released to allow fitment of a postaural device.
In eight of the 11 children treated, conservative measures such as double-sided tape
and retention bands (Huggies™) had been tried previously without success.
The creation of an antihelical fold in a misshapen ear lacking such a fold provides
a reinforcing strut which is useful to support a hearing aid. In patients whose ear
had been excessively tethered by previous surgery, projection was restored by inserting
a cartilage block behind the ear. In one child with ears tethered by previous surgery,
costal cartilage was used not only to release both ears, but also to reconstruct a
new helical rim on one side. Surgery enabled a normal postaural hearing aid to be
worn in 17 of the 19 ears treated. The two failures deserve special mention. In one
patient with a unilateral deformity and severe mental retardation, the dressings were
pulled off immediately after surgery. In another patient with a bilateral problem,
the appearance and hearing aid retention was improved, but there was not enough room
in the postauricular sulcus on one side for the battery component to fit comfortably
and an in-the-ear device is now used on that side. Pinnaplasty is a helpful strategy
to improve hearing aid retention. Care must be taken not to overdo the set back so
that enough room is left to retain the hearing device.
Keywords
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References
- Selection of hearing aids.Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1979; 12: 677-692
- Parents reactions and recommendations after diagnosis and hearing aid fitting.Am J Audiol. 2001; 10: 24-31
- The postauricular fascial flap as an adjunct to Mustarde and Furnas type otoplasty.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001; 108: 1487-1490
- Correction of prominent ears by conchamastoid sutures.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1968; 42: 189-193
- Prominent ears in children younger than four years of age: What is the appropriate timing for Otoplasty?.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004; 114: 1042-1054
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 28, 2007
Accepted:
February 21,
2007
Received:
July 30,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
