What Is Microtia?
Microtia is an outer ear abnormality that鈥檚 present at birth. It can range from being small and barely noticeable to a large structural difference in the outer ear. Some babies with microtia are born with no outer ear at all. Microtia can affect both ears (bilateral microtia) but usually affects one ear (unilateral microtia).
Microtia Grading
Providers classify microtia based on four grades.
- Grade 1: The abnormality is very minor and may not be noticeable.
- Grade 2: The ear is notably small, but many major structures are still present.
- Grade 3: The outer ear contains only a small portion of skin and cartilage. This is sometimes called a 鈥減eanut ear.鈥
- Grade 4: The outer ear is completely missing. Grade 4 microtia is also known as anotia.
How Common is Microtia?
Experts estimate Microtia affects around one in 3,800 babies in the United States. Although microtia can affect anyone, it鈥檚 more common in males.
Does Microtia Cause Hearing Loss?
Microtia and hearing loss are two distinct conditions that need separate evaluations. Microtia on its own rarely causes hearing loss. Sometimes a baby will have hearing loss and microtia at the same time. Some babies with microtia also have ear canal abnormalities (aural atresia), which can cause hearing loss.
Microtia can significantly affect your 人妻中出视频鈥檚 social life. It also may affect your 人妻中出视频鈥檚 ability to wear glasses or use certain earphones. Hearing loss could qualify your 人妻中出视频 for some disability benefits.
Microtia Causes
The majority of babies with microtia have it for no known reason. Sometimes, babies have microtia because of a gene change (mutation) that happens before birth. Your baby has a higher risk of microtia if there鈥檚 a family history of the condition.
A Relationship Created for the Best Pediatric Care
For pediatric specialty care, Intermountain Children's 人妻中出视频 is affiliated with 人妻中出视频 of Utah 人妻中出视频. U of U 人妻中出视频 physicians see patients at , , and other locations throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
It's a shared mission of providing health care, education, and research. It comes to life through collaboration on clinical care, research, and educational programs.
Primary Children's Hospital operates as the main pediatric facility for the U of U 人妻中出视频 system, providing care in more than 60 medical and surgical specialties such as surgery, oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, and others. Most of the providers at Primary Children's Hospital are faculty members at U of U 人妻中出视频.
This partnership delivers care to advance pediatric medicine while educating future generations of health care professionals.
Microtia Diagnosis
Babies with microtia are diagnosed at birth. A neonatal provider looks at their ears for irregularities. If your 人妻中出视频 has microtia, your provider will refer your 人妻中出视频 to a specialist. We have a variety of specialists in our multidisciplinary microtia clinic:
Find a Microtia Specialist
Can Microtia Be Corrected?
There are several treatment options for microtia. You may choose not to treat it if it鈥檚 not causing problems for your 人妻中出视频. Sometimes, your 人妻中出视频 may get an artificial ear (prosthesis) or have surgery to correct microtia.
Why Choose 人妻中出视频 of Utah 人妻中出视频?
Our microtia clinic includes a multi-specialty team:
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Board-certified facial plastic surgeons
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Board certified pediatric otolaryngologists
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Anaplastologists (facial prosthesis creators)
Together, we offer comprehensive treatment for microtia and its related conditions, including hearing loss.
Our collaboration with providers across U of U 人妻中出视频 means your 人妻中出视频 has easy access to a range of specialists. Your 人妻中出视频 receives care in our world-class pediatric hospital. We offer all the necessary resources for managing other conditions and complications.
Make an Appointment
Your insurance determines whether you need a referral to schedule an appointment with the microtia clinic. We recommend checking with your insurance provider before coming to the clinic. Call 801-587-2173 to schedule an appointment.
