One out of 6,000 children in the United States is born with a varying degree of outer ear malformation with a small or absent ear (microtia) and no ear canal (aural atresia) or a very narrow ear canal (external auditory canal stenosis). The early focus of treatment for these infants is on hearing and speech development. Hearing testing is performed. CT scan studies are performed to determine whether a cyst (cholesteatoma) is present and if the inside ear anatomy is favorable for reconstruction of the ear canal, ear drum, and hearing (aural atresia repair) when the child is older.
Learn more about microtia reconstruction.
Learn more about congenital aural atresia reconstruction/atresiaplasty.
