Hearing loss may occur due to missing the external auditory meatus in which condition?

Aural atresia is a condition characterized by the incomplete development or absence of the external auditory canal, which is also known as the external auditory meatus. This structural anomaly can lead to significant conductive hearing loss, as sound waves cannot effectively reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and the middle ear. In the presence of aural atresia, the outer ear's functionality is impaired, resulting in barriers to normal hearing pathways.

Understanding this condition is crucial, especially in a clinical setting where identification and management strategies for hearing loss can vary greatly depending on the underlying cause. The other choices do not directly relate to missing the external auditory meatus; for example, Meniere's disease involves inner ear issues and is characterized by symptoms like vertigo and tinnitus rather than structural absence. Otitis media refers to middle ear infection and would not cause absence of the external ear structure. Conductive hearing loss is a broader term that can include various causes, of which aural atresia is a specific example.