Complication from hearing aid mold material: a case report and review of legal matters.
Ear mold impression middle ear foreign bodies are a rare complication of hearing aid fitting. Only a small number of cases have been reported; however, the actual incidence is unknown and likely much higher than expected. We present the case of a 77-year-old man with a history of preexisting tympanic membrane perforations who presented with an ear mold impression middle ear foreign body that required surgical removal. We explore the state and federal laws that guide the interaction between patients, hearing aid sellers and otolaryngologists. We highlight steps that can be taken to reduce the incidence of this complication.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Electronic address: jammeyers@gmail.com.
Jason A
JA
Meyers
Farhad
F
Ardeshirpour
Christopher W
CW
Hilton
Samuel C
SC
Levine
D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002568:Certification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000209:etiology*