What Is Microtia?

Has your child been diagnosed with Microtia, Atresia, or both, and you need some straight forward information about it? Here is a good place to start.  rnWhat Is Microtia?  rnMicrotia is a congenital ear deformity that can affect the external ear of either one or both ears. In addition to the outer ear deformity, the ear canal, ear drum and ear bones are sometimes affected, resulting in a diagnosis of Atresia Microtia. In fact, Atresia almost always accompanies Microtia because the outer and inner ears develop from the same block of tissue and at the same time in the womb.  rnAtresia Microtia's Effects on Hearingrn rnKeep in mind that extreme hearing loss does not always accompany Atresia Microtia. If hearing loss exists, it is because the sound has a poor pathway to the inner ear. In most cases, this hearing loss can be treated with some form of hearing aid and speech therapy. Only rarely does a complete hearing loss occur.  rnSurgical Optionsrn rnBecause children born with Microtia of the ear have an outer ear deformity, medical treatment tries to restore the Microtia ear's form and function. The treatment often consists of rib cartilage grafts, implants, or ear prosthesis. Usually surgeons recommend that children wait until they are older than six years old before any treatment begins, because they are now beginning to be mature enough to co-operate with the treatment.  rnRib cartilage grafts involve ear reshaping by grafting the child's own rib cartilage to the deformed ear and reshaping it. The cartilage then continues to grow with the child. The advantage to this surgery is that it uses the child's own tissuern rnEar implants to correct the ear deformity require reconstructive surgery. The surgery can be started as young as age three and is usually done on an outpatient basis. The surgery uses the child's own tissue to grow into a polyethylene plastic implant. A new ear is constructed in a single surgery. The surgeon might perform a second surgery a few months later to make minor adjustments. Again, the advantage to this surgery is that it uses the child's own tissue.  rnAnother option to correct a Microtia congenital ear birth defect does not involve using the child's tissue to reshape the ear deformity. Instead, this option uses an ear prosthesis built out of flesh-colored silicone. This ear prosthesis appears very realistic and requires only a few minutes of daily care. The advantage to the prosthesis is that it can appear more real than ear reshaping. The disadvantages are the small amount of required daily care and the fact that the child knows the prosthesis is not real. Sometimes, parents fit their children born with a Microtia ear deformity with a prosthesis before they start kindergarten.  rnAlthough having a child with this common birth defect can seem overwhelming at first, parents can rest assured that with today's medical advances and audio and speech technology, children born with Microtia and Atresia can lead fulfilling lives.