The ear reconstruction service care for children and adults with microtia (a small or absent ear) and atresia (absence of the ear canal).
Microtia and atresia may impact on all aspects of individuals lives including appearance, hearing and emotional well-being.
Individuals born with microtia (a small or absent ear) and atresia (absence of the ear canal) may have a complex condition affecting not only their ear but also their face and head.
This can impact all aspects of an individual’s life including appearance, hearing and emotional well-being. As microtia affects about 1 in 6,000 people it is a relatively rare condition.
Staff you are likely to meet
The team in the microtia and atresia clinic includes doctors and other health care professionals with a special interest in microtia and atresia who can provide considered, knowledgeable and reliable information.
The ear reconstruction team has a clear understanding of the issues you or your child might face, what services are available to help and who to contact in the event of issues.
We aim to allow you or your child a holistic, individualised assessment and, should you wish, provide specialist care for appearance, hearing and emotional issues.
Who will you be seen by?
In the clinic you or your child will be seen by:
Consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon
An ENT consultant will discuss potential hearing options including hearing devices
Consultant plastic surgeon
A plastic surgery will discuss the possible options for changing the appearance the outside of your or your child’s ear. This might be something you or your child decide that you do not want at this stage.
Indeed, you or your child may decide to never to change the appearance of your or your child’s ear. However, we can give you information about the available options so that you and / or your child can make an informed decision.
Audiologist
An audiologist will discuss hearing devices and arrange a trial or fitting / review appointment as necessary
What will happen at my appointment?
You or your child will be seen in a room by all members of the team. There can be a lot of people in the room which some people might find a little daunting.
However, all the team are there to help you. We may suggest that you or your child has a hearing test and take some photographs of your or your child’s face and ear.
We may talk about hearing devices, operations or simply offer a further appointment. The most important thing to remember is that you (and your child if appropriate) are in charge of what happens.
Before you (and your child) come to clinic it may help to write down any questions or concerns you (or your child) might have and bring the list with you to the appointment.
Further information
Further information can found by the following patient support groups.
Reconstructive surgery for microtia
http://www.microtiauk.org/docs/Reconstruction_leaflet.pdf
Microtia UK
Changing Faces Charity
Changing Faces has some good resources and publications showing the importance of social and emotional support for people living with visible difference including helping them to respond to the reactions of others and educating people around them about visible difference.
