Born without ears, he can hear clearly as anyone else

Palanpur, June 5 (UNI) It is a rare case of man without ears being able to hear the surrounding sounds. He enjoys listening to music on TV, radio and ably uses his cellphone.

Motilal Mali (37), born without ears - not even a hole to get outside air in - is not the one to despair. He can catch the sound as smartly and sensitively as a normal person. He has to press a nerve point on his head or forehead to catch the sound more clearly.

''It is the first case of its type,'' says ENT Surgeon Hemant Shah. ''I have never come across such a person who has no ears and yet can hear.'' ''I thoroughly checked him as my curiosity was aroused. The greatest wonder is despite of having no hearing organs, he does hear as an ordinary person,'' he added.

He also said ''It can be termed as congenital auricle deformity or deformity of pinna. Motilal is an abnormal man. According to medical science, a living being has two types of conductions through which he catches vibration. First is air conduction which is found in majority of the people and second is bone conduction. The former is not available in him. His bone conductions are far better and more powerful than that of an ordinary person. The deformity of air conduction has been supplemented by the bone conduction.'' Dr Mamoj Amin who runs an audiological clinic in Deesa said he did not see any miracle in Motilal. ''Such cases are not abnormal, a man with normal physical anatomy sans ear can catch the vibrations with other means,'' he said.

Motilal has been serving with Akar diamond cutting and polishing factory in Deesa. ''Wherever he goes he becomes an object of attraction. He does his work as efficiently as the others,'' says his employer Maheshbhai Bhansali. ''You may not realise his deformity even if he may be traveling with you in a bus or train.

The deformity is not discernible as the missing portion of his ears on both sides of his face is covered under his long hair,'' Mr Bhansali added.

UNI