subject: The "little" Ear [print this page] What is Microtia you ask? Microtia is not a disease or an ear infection, it is an ear deformity to put it simply. Microtia is Latin for the words micro and otia, meaning "little ear." It is a common birth defect and happens during the first trimester of pregnancy. Microtia of the ear is a disorder that occurs in 1 in 10,000 children born. Microtia causes an ear deformity of one or both ears in which the outer ear is underdeveloped or absent. So does this affect the child's hearing? In general, a child with microtia of the ear, has a complete, and normal inner ear, and sometimes even has an ear canal, meaning, that the child is able to hear some sounds, and most likely will not have any hearing loss. Luckily, this defect can be corrected with reconstruction surgery or ear reshaping and microtia before and after is quite remarkable .
There are different types and different levels of microtia of the ear to look for in your child. Atresia microtia is the most common type of microtia of the ear and happens when the outer and middle ear develop together. If you would like to identify if your child has microtia of the ear there are four different levels and signs to look for:
Microtia of the ear level 1- Your child's ear is somewhat smaller and has an identifiable outer ear structure or an almost normal looking ear, it is smaller than normal but it still functions.
Microtia of the ear level 2- Your child has a partial ear that has a closed off external ear canal and produces a partial loss of hearing, sounds will be muffled.
Microtia of the ear level 3- Level 3 is the most seen form of microtia. Your child will have an absence of the external ear, sometimes the child will have a tiny "nub" or small lump of skin that looks similar to a peanut. You child will have no external ear canal or eardrum.
Microtia of the ear level 4- Level 4 is the most severe form of ear deformity. Your child will have a complete absence of the ear.
Many concerned parents with children of microtia of the ear will ask, "how will microtia affect my child?" "How will this birth defect affect my child's day-to-day life?" Microtia does not affect a child's intelligence or any motor skills, children with microtia live a normal life. Microtia of the ear is a common birth defect! Microtia only affects the ear itself and most likely will not affect any hearing. As children with microtia develop and grow older, they will get used to their "little ear."
I do not have a child with microtia of the ear but I do know someone who has it. When I asked her how she has dealt with her microtia of the ear through her life she told me that as a child she was very self-conscious. She did not suffer any hearing loss but in a world where people are so judgmental it was very hard for her at times, she found that she kept her hair in a long fashion as to hide her ear. Her parents, always very supportive and encouraging of her ear deformity helped her though it. As she grew older, she became more accepting of herself and thought of her "little ear" as something very special and unique to her instead of thinking of it as an ear deformity. Someday she may have ear reshaping surgery, but for now she is happy and healthy she does not let her birth defect change her in any way and that's all that matters to her right now.
