By Dr. Max S. Chartrand Ph.D.

Collapsed or Prolapsed Ear Canals: A reader asks about deterioration of the cartilage of her external ear.

Question:

A few years ago my left ear cartilage collapsed, and I had to have surgery to open it back up. I feel it is happening again, as it closes up on me when I barely touch the outside of it. I need hearing aids but am afraid they won't be comfortable. What do you think? --- Mrs. M.D.

Answer:

Dear Mrs. M.D.: A hearing aid is both an amplification device intended to help correct lost hearing and a prosthesis to hold the amplification to the ear.

That second part, the prosthesis, may be more helpful to you than you think. Many patients, as they get older, experience deteriorating cartilage, not just in the ear, but all over the body.

The earmold of the hearing aid can go far in supporting the cartilage of the ear canal, and thus help slow continued collapsing of the ear canal. But it is important that the dispenser or audiologist understand how to take an impression of such an ear. For some support of the opening may be required during impression taking.

First, it must be determined if your canals are actually collapsed (completely shut), or prolapsed (closing off, but still open). The degree of cartilaginous distortion will help determine the needed course of action.

Also, there are several new cartilage support supplements on the market that may be recommended to you by a qualified health professional. These are usually "homeopathic" with live cartilage cells that naturally gravitate to other cartilage cells in the body.

Indeed, if you suffer from a hearing loss, you should not hesitate to obtain properly fitted hearing aids. In doing so, as the old saying goes, you may be "killing two birds with one stone".