Aural atresia is most commonly a unilateral finding but can occur bilaterally.
It is important to identify these children early in life in order to evaluate their hearing and to counsel their families regarding possible complications and treatment options. Initial Identification and Management A malformed pinna alerts the family and the physician to the presence of aural atresia. However, congenital aural atresia may be found in the presence of a completely normal auricle. The opening into the canal may be completely absent, or there may be a blind sinus or tight stenosis leading to an abnormally small tympanic membrane. It is imperative that infants with atresia, whether unilateral or bilateral, undergo a complete audiologic evaluation including an auditory brainstem evoked-response test.