Acoustic characteristics of reconstructed ear canal after atresia surgery

The acoustic properties of the reconstructed ear canals of 13 patients after atresia surgery were investigated by comparing them with those of contralateral healthy ear canals. In the third post-operative month, resonant frequency, amplitude and bandwith of the ear canals with Q-factor were measured. Probe microphone measurements showed a significant shift in resonant frequency in the direction of the higher frequencies, and a non-significant change in bandwith in the atresia surgery group. The suggested reason may be a change in ear canal curvature, altered vibration pattern and sound-absorption characteristics of the skin graft lining the reconstructed ear canal.