Treatments and Surgical Options
Timeline
The Guiding Principle is to establish maximum and early hearing in both ears to allow normal brain and auditory development. The following chronologic listing is a guideline of tasks to accomplish in the first 3 years of life.
Device Options
There are non-surgically Implanted Bone Conduction Hearing Devices, Surgically Implanted Hearing Devices, Vibration Devices and Hearing aids.
Atresia Repair Canalplasty
Atresia Repair / Canalplasty. Surgery may be necessary for treatment. You will learn those options within this section.
Combined Atresia Microtia Repair (CAM)
After several years of experience with canal surgery first followed by medpor as a second surgery, Dr. Roberson, in cooperation with Dr. John Reinisch, performed the first Combined Atresia Microtia Repair (CAM) surgery in the world in January 2008.
Outcomes
Hearing levels following the construction of an ear canal rarely equal that of a normal ear. However, the chance of improvement in hearing with surgery is high in properly selected patients.
Complications
Every surgical procedure includes specific complications which should be taken into consideration when decisions regarding treatment are being made. Complications associated with atresia surgery are listed here.
- Timeline: Timeline – Guiding Principle is to establish maximum and early hearing in both ears to allow normal brain and auditory development
- Device Options
- Surgical Options – Atresia Repair / Canalplasty
- Surgical Options – Combined Atresia Microtia (CAM)
- Outcomes
- Complications