The outer ear is made up of the part we see on the sides of our heads, known as (1) the pinna, (2) the ear canal, and (3) the eardrum, sometimes called the tympanic membrane, which separates the outer and middle ear. A parent of a deaf child might encounter the term “outer ear components” when discussing potential causes of their child’s hearing loss with a doctor or audiologist.
Has your child or family member been identified as deaf or hard of hearing?