Ear and audiology: tympanic membrane in hearing aid mould allergy: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Ear and audiology: tympanic membrane in hearing aid mould allergy

Sample item

A man wearing a hearing aid for several years has itchy, red, weeping skin in the concha and canal where the earmould sits. What is the likeliest cause?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Contact dermatitis to the mould material

Earmould materials can cause allergic contact dermatitis in the area of contact. Changing the material and topical steroid help.

Option by option

  • A. Cholesteatoma

    Cholesteatoma gives foul discharge and a retraction pocket.

  • B. Otosclerosis

    Otosclerosis causes hearing loss without skin changes.

  • C. Contact dermatitis to the mould material (correct)

    Correct. Skin reaction localised to where the mould sits points to contact dermatitis.

  • D. Bacterial mastoiditis

    Mastoiditis causes postauricular swelling and fever.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Contact dermatitis to the mould material. Earmould materials can cause allergic contact dermatitis in the area of contact.

Why is "Cholesteatoma" not the answer?

Cholesteatoma gives foul discharge and a retraction pocket.

Why is "Otosclerosis" not the answer?

Otosclerosis causes hearing loss without skin changes.

Why is "Bacterial mastoiditis" not the answer?

Mastoiditis causes postauricular swelling and fever.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: tympanic membrane in hearing aid mould allergy in ENT. Changing the material and topical steroid help.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ear and audiology: tympanic membrane in hearing aid mould allergy?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.