Atresia can lead to what condition in the ear?

Atresia refers to the congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening or canal. In the context of the ear, this typically means that there is a lack of an external auditory canal or it may not be properly formed. This condition can significantly affect hearing, as sound cannot properly travel through the ear canal to the eardrum and middle ear structures.

The absence of a normal body opening is a direct result of atresia and is the defining characteristic of this condition. In many cases, atresia can also be associated with other ear anomalies which would further impact hearing ability.

The other conditions listed are not typically associated with atresia. Increased hearing sensitivity would not occur because atresia typically results in some level of hearing loss. While atresia might predispose someone to ear infections due to the way the ear structures are formed, the primary condition associated with atresia is the absence or closure of the normal auditory pathways, making the second option the most accurate.