Expert: Harriet B Jacobster, Au.D. - 3/20/2009

Question
hi there i went yesterday to the hearing clinic because i was haveingdifficulty in putting in my hearing aid the person there took a mould of my left ear and that showed that my ear canal was closieng hense i have to have a new left ear hearing aid made. should i contact my doctor about this problem??? and can an operation be had for openning up my ear canal?? regards bob christchurch new zealand

Answer
Hi Bob,
It all depends on why your ear canal is closing.  Unfortunately, it is not uncommon, as we grow older, for our ear canals to "collapse."  This is due to changes in anatomy, breakdown of cartilage in the ear canal, etc.  Once the hearing aid is inserted, it should keep the canal open enough for sound to come through. Surgery is usually not indicated in these cases.  Now, if the canal is closing due to some type of growth in the canal, that is a different situation. Osteomata are bony benign growths that can occur in the ear canal. Many times these can grow so large, that surgical removal is recommended.  It is also possible that you have an infection or irritation of the skin in the ear canal which may be causing swelling.  In that case, certain medications can reduce the swelling.  Have you asked the audiologist who looked in your ear why?  A good audiologist can tell is there is swelling, osteomata or just a collapsed canal.  Based on what the audiologist says, you can then decide what options you have.

Hope this helps.
Harriet B. Jacobster, AuD
Board Certified in Audiology