Meatal atresia is the condition where the ear canal is narrowed for some reason. This condition can be either acquired or congenital. Ear canal connects the external ear with the middle ear and the rest of the ear structures. It is important for normal functioning of the hearing. When ear canal narrows, the person may experience decrease in hearing and also have some problems with normal production of ear wax. Ear wax filtrates all bad components that get into the ear, such as dirt, chemicals or water. Earwax is important for efflux of all unnecessary elements from the ear canal.
Meatal atresia is a very rare condition which can develop as a result of congenital abnormalities of the middle ear and also when the child is born with the ear deformity, such as microtia. Microtia is a condition when the ear is too small. In rare cases the ear can be absent altogether and then the ear canal can be narrowed as a result of that.
According to statics, meatal atresia is diagnosed in 1 child out of ten thousand. Genetic predisposition and also genetic mutation can lead to development of meatal atresia. Problems during pregnancy, such as acute and severe viral and bacterial infections, can affect normal development of ear in the child.
Meatal atresia is slightly more common in boys than in girls. Also, meatal atresia is 3 times more common in only one ear, so this condition is predominantly unilateral. In such case, another ear functions normally and the child can hear all the sounds normally because one ear compensates the hearing problem of another. In 11-17% of all meatal atresia cases the child also has sensorineural hearing loss.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed
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