WHAT IS CONGENITAL AURAL ATRESIA?

This is the term used to describe the absence of an ear canal, although the cochlea and inner ear are usually present. It usually occurs in conjunction with microtia, and rarely it can occur with a normally formed outer ear. Atresia can occur on either one side (unilateral atresia) or two sides (bilateral atresia). It usually results in a conductive hearing loss, as the sound cannot get through to the cochlea.

Having atresia means that a traditional type Behind The Ear hearing aid cannot be worn, as there is no ear to put the hearing aid onto or no canal to put it into. There are however, hearing aids that will provide hearing to patients with atresia.