This first and most visible component, the Outer Ear, is comprised of the external fleshy part of the ear and the ear canal; they can be thought of as a radar station, collecting sounds and channeling them to the next component.
Changes here, such as heavy accumulations of wax or infections, can result in significant losses of conductive hearing. These losses, however, are usually temporary and can be cleared up with correction of the condition. Other conditions such as bony growths in the ear canals
(common to surfers) can result in much conductive hearing loss. These, however, can be readily corrected through surgery.
Some birth defects restrict the development of the ear canal and result in maximal loss of hearing from birth on. Many of these conditions can also be corrected by surgery today. The
condition is called Congential Atresia and can also present some deformity of the external ear termed microtia.
For details about the middle ear, please click
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