Aural atresia is the lack of an ear canal. It may occur in one or both ears. In aural atresia repair, the doctor rebuilds the canal and middle ear. This surgery is done when a child is at least 5 years old.
The doctor makes a new ear canal and fixes problems in the middle ear. Your child will be asleep during the surgery.
Children often go home several hours after surgery. They may have ear pain for a few days after surgery. Your child will probably be able to go back to school or day care within a week.
The surgery should improve your child's hearing. But your child may still need a hearing aid.
When a child has aural atresia, the outside of the ear may not look normal. The doctor may want to repair it as well. This is done in a separate surgery, usually before the canal and middle ear are fixed.
Surgery can be stressful for both your child and you. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your child's surgery.
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for any changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
Aural atresia is the lack of an ear canal. In the surgery, the doctor made a new ear canal and fixed problems in your child's middle ear.
Your child may have ear pain for a few days after surgery. There may be good days and bad days. Older children may have less pain than younger children. Your child may feel dizzy for several hours after surgery. This is common.
Sometimes, surgery affects nerves in the face. Your child's doctor may treat this with medicines called corticosteroids. In some cases, a doctor may do surgery to fix the nerve.
Your child will feel tired for several days and then will slowly become more active. It should be okay for your child to go back to school or day care within a week. Your child's hearing may improve after the surgery. But your child may still need a hearing aid if they were already using one.
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