Microtia is a birth difference where a baby is born with an external ear that is smaller than usual and not fully formed.
Basic definition
Microtia is a congenital (present at birth) deformity of the outer ear, also called the auricle, in which the ear is underdeveloped or abnormally shaped. In the most severe form, the outer ear may be almost or completely absent, which is called anotia.
How common and who it affects
Microtia happens in roughly 1 in 6,000 to 10,000 births, so it is considered rare. It more often affects one ear (usually the right) and is seen more frequently in boys and in people of Asian, Hispanic, and some Native American backgrounds.
Severity types
Doctors usually describe four grades (or types) of microtia, from mild to severe. In mild cases the ear is normal in shape but smaller; in the most severe cases, nearly all external ear structures are missing and the condition overlaps with anotia.
Hearing and related issues
Because the ear canal and middle ear structures can also be affected, many children with microtia have some degree of conductive hearing loss in the affected ear. Microtia can occur by itself or as part of a syndrome that affects other parts of the face or body, so children are often checked for other differences as well.
Treatment options
Treatment focuses on two main areas: helping hearing and reconstructing the ear’s appearance. Management can include hearing aids (like bone-anchored devices) and staged reconstructive surgery or a prosthetic ear, usually planned when the child is older.
