Microtia Overview
Microtia is an incompletely developed outer ear. The term “micro” means small and “otia“ means ear. Hence, when translated literally, “microtia” means small ear. Generally a remnant of tissue is present in the location where the ear would normally be found. In other cases, the lobule, the lower part of the ear, and the concha, the hollow part of the ear, may be partially formed and the entire upper part of the ear is missing.

Microtia can involve one or both ears, generally about 80% of the time only one ear is affected.

The most common condition or syndrome in which microtia is seen is Hemifacial Microsomia. This is a condition in which involves one ear. This is called Unilateral Microtia or one sided. In this case, one half of the face does not grow in proportion to the other.

If both ears are involved the condition is considered to be bilateral or two-sided. A child with this condition could have Bifacial Microsomia which is similar to Hemifacial Microsomia. However, in this case, both sides of the face are affected.

Another condition to consider if both ears are microtic is Treacher Collins Syndrome. In Treacher Collins Syndrome the eyes are also affected and they appear to have a downward slant or “pulled down appearance”.

• Microtia is an ear deformity that occurs in every 6,000 – 12,000 births
• Atresia means there is no ear canal
• Microtia and Atresia usually occur together
• Microtia occurs more often in boys than girls
• Children with Microtia and Atresia have severe hearing loss on the affected side
• Although there is a hearing loss in children with Microtia, the inner ears on both sides are usually normal
• There are various options to increase the child’s self esteem by utilizing silicone prosthetics.