Approximately 1 in 3800 infants are born with congenital ear deformities each year, with wide ranging effects ranging from hearing and developmental delays to cosmetic concerns.
Causes of various types of ear malformations are often associated with lack of blood supply or infection to the baby’s ear during prenatal development, or genetic mutation or inherited conditions.
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital offers a comprehensive spectrum of state-of-the-art treatment options and support for children and families with ear deformities. Our specialists focus not just on the visual appearance of the year, but also its function and your child’s ability to thrive during and after treatment.
Conditions we treat
The ear deformities specialists at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital offer a comprehensive approach to treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Accessory tragus (Ear tags)
- Anotia (absent ear)
- Cauliflower Ears
- Constricted/Lop/Cup Ears
- Cryptotia
- Ear Injuries and Split Earlobes
- Ear Implants
- Ear Deformities
- Ear Hemangiomas
- Newborn ear deformities
- Microtia (small or incompletely formed ear)
- Prominent ears (overly large ear)
- Stahl Ear (pointed ear)
Diagnosing ear deformities
Most congenital ear deformities are diagnosed at birth, although some can be less apparent and diagnosed through evaluation of other symptoms such as frequent ear infections, facial deformities or dental issues.
Many ear malformations can be corrected most effectively if diagnosed accurately within the first few days or weeks after birth.
These diagnoses can often be made through a physical exam, but occasionally may require other testing such as hearing tests to detect any hearing loss or diagnostic imaging, such as CT scans. We work closely with world-class pediatric audiologists right here in the hospital, as well as anesthesiologists and radiologists who specialize in children specifically to ensure your child’s diagnostic exams are precise, safe, and provide your care team with the information they need for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Treatments we offer
Our specialists offer a comprehensive range of treatment options, including ear reconstruction as well as non-surgical treatment options such as ear molding. Our commitment to making the latest treatment options available to patients includes offering bone-anchored prosthesis and natural ear tissue reconstruction, designed and created by a certified artistic specialist.
Our plastic surgery and otolaryngology specialists have extensive experience with the latest treatment options and will work with your family to create a plan customized to your child.
We work in seamless collaboration with other specialists, including audiology, as well as a range of multidisciplinary programs at Mott Children’s Hospital to ensure coordinated care for children with additional conditions or related disorders.
Child life specialists are an important part of our team, both in clinic and in the pre- and post- surgery areas, to support your child and help reduce anxiety during treatment.
Why choose Mott?
As one of the nation’s top ranked academic medical centers, our specialists are leaders in teaching the next generation of surgeons, as well as in research to advance pediatric care. Our leadership in this area gives us a uniquely thorough understanding of the distinctive aspects of these conditions and their underlying causes, and makes us particularly well-qualified to treat not just the symptoms, but the entire condition.
Some deformities among newborns can be treated non-surgically if treated promptly after birth (within days). We closely with the birth center at the Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital birth center, co-located in the same building as C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, in addition to working closely with pediatricians throughout Michigan and northwest Ohio to coordinate care children with ear deformities.
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the nation to receive verification as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center, the highest designation awarded to children’s hospitals by the American College of Surgeons. The verification is meant to be an indicator that the hospital can match each child’s individual surgical needs with the best care environment, with minimal complications, reduced costs, and improved quality.
Our patient- and family centered approach to treatment ensures your child will be cared for not just physically but also with a focus on providing support and resources to create confidence within patients and families throughout their journey.
We look forward to the opportunity to meeting your family and working with you to provide world-class care for your adolescent.
Appointments & More Information
Schedule an appointment by calling us at 734-998-6022.