What Is Microtia

What is microtia? Microtia is a form of atrasia

. Atrasia is the condition of an abnormal closing or absence of a bodily orifice. So, microtia is a ear deformity where the outer ear is underdeveloped from birth. The ratio of children born with microtia is 1/9,000. Microtia is not among the common birth defects, although, microtia is a known complication of children born if the mother took the drug Accutane while pregnant. This atrasia of the ear may affect both (bilateral) ears or only one (unilateral) ear. There are varying degrees grading 1-5 of microtia. 1 being a present and formed, but slightly deformed and small external ear and ear canal, to 5 being the complete absence of an external ear and ear canal. Microtia may be an unfortunate birth defect, but thankfully with modern medicine today, it is treatable.

The level of hearing loss of children born with microtia may vary depending on the conditions' severity. A special hearing test can determine how much the child can hear and which is the best approach to treat it with. Usually the inner is is intact and healthy, so some children are candidates of surgery to create an ear canal to improve conductive hearing. Other children born with more severe grades (those including aural atrasia) of microtia may be better off receiving a cochlear implant to amplify sounds to the inner ear. Speech therapy is also encouraged for children born with microtia. Because of hearing loss, most sound are muffled, so correct enunciation is often taught by a speech therapist. Unilateral microtia was not considered a serious disability until the 90's, because it was thought that the child could adjust to it from birth.

There are significant advantages to repairing the hearing loss in a microtic ear, especially in bilateral cases. Children born with microtia and left untreated are more likely to repeat a grade in school and need other supplemental services.

As far as the aesthetics of the deformed ear, there are a few methods to correct that as well. Plastic surgery can be done by forming the child's own rib cartilage into the shape of an ear and implanting it where the natural external ear should go, or by using a polyethylene plastic implant to slowly reshape the ear.

Ear prosthetic are also a very good choice because the silicone custom-made ear looks very realistic and can be made to match the other ear. Either way, these options are sure to help the child feel more comfortable and normal in dealing with their ear deformity.

As mentioned earlier, one of the related conditions of microtia is aural atrasia. Aural atrasia is the underdevelopment of the middle ear, and is usually present if the grade of microtia is higher and there is no external ear canal present.

Microtia is usually not associated with other ailments but it may be in conjunction with Goldenhar Syndrome or Treacher-Collins Syndrome, or hemifacial microsomia. Other associations of microtia have occasionally been jaw problems, kidney abnormalities, and more rarely, heart defects and vertebral deformities.

Microtia itself may be an unfortunate birth defect, but thankfully it is treatable. With our world of modern medicine children born with microtia do not have to suffer through their congenital ear deformity, but can rather overcome it by hearing and looking normal with treatment.

by: Newton Lomeli

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