Final answer:
A simple mastoidectomy does not typically worsen hearing as it involves removing infected cells in the mastoid without affecting the hearing mechanism. However, lacking a malleus would cause hearing issues as it disrupts the transmission of sound vibrations to the inner ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
Will a simple mastoidectomy worsen hearing? The answer is b) No, a simple mastoidectomy is typically performed to remove infected air cells within the mastoid bone due to chronic ear infections, without affecting the hearing apparatus. The surgery aims to eradicate the disease and prevent its complications.
In contrast, if an individual was born without the malleus in either ear, they might have problems with hearing because the malleus is a crucial bone in the middle ear. Without the malleus and incus, the vibrations from the tympanum (eardrum) cannot be efficiently transmitted to the stapes, and then into the cochlea. The pinna, which is the outer part of the ear, does not directly transmit vibrations to the middle ear bones; it helps to collect sound waves and funnel them into the ear canal. Therefore, the absence of the malleus and incus interrupts the mechanical pathway by which sound vibrations travel to the inner ear, which can result in conductive hearing loss.