Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aids in a Patient with Bilateral Atresia of the External Auditory Canal with Chromosome 18q Deletion Syndrome: A Case Report

Abstract

A 12-year-old boy with moderate conductive hearing loss from birth due to bilateral atresia of the external auditory canal could hear and speak with bone-conduction hearing aids. However, this type of hearing aid causes skin erosion and irritation in the temporal region. Therefore, we attempted to prescribe cartilage conduction hearing aids for him. At first, we tried to put the transducer of the hearing aids between the tragus and antitragus. But the transducer could not be placed stably in that position and there was acoustic feedback. In such a situation, we usually use an ear mold containing the transducer. But the patient did not want to wear the ear mold because it caused discomfort. Therefore, we used double-faced tape on the sound processor, which successfully led to elimination of the acoustic feedback. The acoustic field hearing test revealed a hearing level of 30 dB.