Tympanoplasty on only hearing ears

The management of only hearing ears remains controversial because of the risk of postoperative hearing deterioration. We reviewed 12 cases of hearing ears alone operated on at the Hyogo College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology from 1999 to 2002. All ears were dry at the final examination. Postoperative hearing results were evaluated based on the guideline of the Japan Otological Society (2000). An air bone gap within 15 dB was found in 9 cases (75%), hearing gain exceeding 15 dB was found in 6 cases (50%), the hearing level was within 30 dB in 4 cases (33.3%), and total successful cases numbered 10 (83.3%). Eight patients wore hearing aids before surgery, and 4 patients (50%) did not need them after the surgery. We suggest that tympanoplasty by skillful surgeons should be done to obtain a dry ear, to avoid a progressive hearing loss, to preserve or improve hearing, and to improve the quality of life. We also suggest that handling of ossicles should minimized in chronic otitis media and cholesteatoma.