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The author presents diagnostic and clinical characteristics in congenital malformations of the external and middle ear in 100 patients aged 3 to 16 years. Computed tomography (CT) data are of key importance in deciding on surgical correction of hearing in patients with microtia. Incidence of significant CT signs and score assessment of CT findings are described. The results of 37 meatotympanoplasties are described. It is very important to select patients for certain surgery correctly. A universal approach to selection of patients for surgery was tested. The author came to the conclusion that improvement of the hearing function in patients with microtia is feasible in cases with hearing thresholds of 55-70 dB without neurosensory component. CT of the temporal bone should define pneumatic tympanic cavity, good differentiation of the hammer and anvil, unaffected labirynthine windows, facial nerve and inner ear.

This study demonstrated that biologically active points (BAP) of external ear were sensitive to ultrasonic treatment. In order to identify their characteristics, specific conductivity of tissues in the BAP area was measured (in microamperes) by an Elita 4-PEP unit equipped with a silver probe. Conductivity was measured in five points. Such points as i-feng, er-meng, nei-er were shown to influence the cochleovestibular system and exhibit conductivity of approximately 150 microA. The risk of point hyperactivity increased drastically by the 4th and 13th exposure in response to unilateral endaural pharmacophysical treatment with 0.4 W/cm2 ultrasound. The use of ultrasound of lower intensity (0.05-0.2 W/cm2) helped to avoid this complication. These observations suggest that phonopuncture can constitute a component of endaural pharmacophysical treatment of internal ear.