Medical Edge Newspaper Column

A Hearing Aid May Help When a Cyst Damages Hearing

December 16, 2007
Dear Mayo Clinic:
I have been diagnosed with a cholesteatoma. My doctor said it could be related to a lot of ear infections. Can a hearing aid help me now?

Answer:
A cholesteatoma is a type of cyst or sac that forms from the skin of the eardrum. It is located in the middle ear behind the eardrum. The growth is benign but it can damage the eardrum and the bones within the ear and eventually cause hearing loss. The condition is usually the result of repeated ear infections, though it's important to note here that most patients with a history of ear infections do not develop a cholesteatoma.

In addition to gradual hearing loss, symptoms can include ear drainage or discharge and a feeling of pressure or fullness within the ear. In severe cases, a cholesteatoma may cause earaches, headaches, facial weakness and dizziness.

A cholesteatoma is usually diagnosed by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist after a review of your medical history, an examination of your ear and a hearing test. Most often, a computed tomography (CT) scan is used to help determine the extent of the growth and how much the bones within the middle ear have been affected.

Initial treatment of a cholesteatoma often involves antibiotics and eardrops to treat infection and stop the drainage. Usually surgery is required to remove the cyst, clear infection and repair damage to structures within the ear in order to preserve or restore some element of hearing.

When the ear canal is dry and free of infection, and if the eardrum is intact, a hearing aid is often a good option for someone whose hearing has been irreparably damaged by a cholesteatoma. An audiologist (a specialist in assessing hearing impairment and fitting hearing aids) or hearing aid dispenser will evaluate and fit you with the appropriate device.

In any instance where surgery has been performed or an eardrum has been perforated, special consideration must be given to the venting of the device's earmold (the part of the hearing aid that fits within the ear) to ensure adequate aeration. For best results, an audiologist will follow the recommendations of the ear, nose and throat specialist.

 Charles Beatty, M.D., and Cynthia Hogan, Ph.D., Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.