Have you ever seen someone who has no ear opening like the one in the picture? Have you ever wandered if the person can hear you despite the absence of the canal, and if it would be possible for an "operation" that could create an ear opening? Let me introduce you the condition called AURAL ATRESIA.
Lend me your ears and know a little bit something about this.
Absence of the ear canal is referred to as aural atresia. This condition resulted from failure of the external ear canal to completely develop. It occurs in 1:10,000 live births and is more commonly unilateral.The reason for its occurence is still unknown.In other words, it's one of those I call "God's will" that is part of one's fate. Regardless of whether this condition is present in 1 or both ears, hearing function must be assessed in both ears by means of specialized audiologic testing, such as auditory-evoked brainstem responses elicited from both air and bone conducted signals. If bilateral atresia and good cochlear function are present, the person just needs amplification with a bone-conducting hearing aid until a decision is made to pursue surgical correction just before the child starts school. Before surgical correction is considered, the patient must fulfill 2 criteria. First, the patient must have normal cochlear function or "hearing", as demonstrated on hearing examination. Second, CT scan must demonstrate normal inner ear and internal auditory canal morphology. If the patient meets both criteria then surgery is considered. If not, surgery would only be for cosmesis if the person wishes to.
So the next time you see a person like this, try to check if he/she can hear you. If loud and clear, then the chances for surgical repair is better. Have him/her see the ENT doctor for evaluation and management.
Incidentally, do you know that the first documented "surgery" in the bible is actually the putting back of the cut ear of the servant of the high priest by Jesus?
Lend me your ears and know a little bit something about this.
Absence of the ear canal is referred to as aural atresia. This condition resulted from failure of the external ear canal to completely develop. It occurs in 1:10,000 live births and is more commonly unilateral.The reason for its occurence is still unknown.In other words, it's one of those I call "God's will" that is part of one's fate. Regardless of whether this condition is present in 1 or both ears, hearing function must be assessed in both ears by means of specialized audiologic testing, such as auditory-evoked brainstem responses elicited from both air and bone conducted signals. If bilateral atresia and good cochlear function are present, the person just needs amplification with a bone-conducting hearing aid until a decision is made to pursue surgical correction just before the child starts school. Before surgical correction is considered, the patient must fulfill 2 criteria. First, the patient must have normal cochlear function or "hearing", as demonstrated on hearing examination. Second, CT scan must demonstrate normal inner ear and internal auditory canal morphology. If the patient meets both criteria then surgery is considered. If not, surgery would only be for cosmesis if the person wishes to.
So the next time you see a person like this, try to check if he/she can hear you. If loud and clear, then the chances for surgical repair is better. Have him/her see the ENT doctor for evaluation and management.
Incidentally, do you know that the first documented "surgery" in the bible is actually the putting back of the cut ear of the servant of the high priest by Jesus?
Comments
thanks for the info...
have encouraged frends to check out your website.
keep this going!!! gogogo!!
-pau-