What are the abnormalities of the ears?

Microtia/anotia is a congenital malformation of the ear in which the external ear (auricle) is underdeveloped and either abnormally shaped (microtia) or absent (anotia). The external ear canal may be atretic (absent).

What is a deformed ear called?

Anotia and microtia are birth defects of a baby’s ear. Anotia happens when the external ear (the part of the ear that can be seen) is missing completely. Microtia happens when the external ear is small and not formed properly. Anotia/microtia usually happens during the first few weeks of pregnancy.

What is Stahl’s ear?

Stahl’s ear is caused by misshapen cartilage. It is characterized by an extra horizontal fold of cartilage (crus). Normally, there are two: superior and inferior. In Stahl’s ear, there is a third horizontal crus. The helix (or upper portion of the ear) may uncurl, giving the ear a pointed shape.

Can ear deformities be fixed?

Options range from noninvasive ear molding to correct the shape of a malformed ear to surgery, typically not recommended until a child reaches school age. At the right time, however, surgical treatments can reshape and even entirely reconstruct abnormal ears, and in some cases, help restore hearing.

Why are my ears two different shapes?

Acquired ear differences usually result from traumas that lead to either a missing piece of the ear or a misshapen ear that is the result of significant scarring. Contour differences of the ear come in as many different forms as there are ears.

What causes ear deformities at birth?

Most ear deformities are congenital, meaning they are present from birth. In rare cases, children develop ear deformities from trauma or disease. In some children, an ear deformity is a symptom of a genetic disorder that can affect multiple body systems, such as Goldenhar syndrome and CHARGE syndrome.

When is it too late for ear molding?

Is my child too old for ear molding? Results with ear molding are generally best if applied during the first 1-2 weeks of life; however, success can be seen if treating before 12 weeks of age. Older children may require a longer duration of treatment as the cartilage is less malleable.

How do you fix ear deformity?

Otoplasty — also known as cosmetic ear surgery — is a procedure to change the shape, position or size of the ears. You might choose to have otoplasty if you’re bothered by how far your ears stick out from your head. You might also consider otoplasty if your ear or ears are misshapen due to an injury or birth defect.

What causes mixed ear deformity?

Most ear deformities or malformations of the ear are congenital (present at birth), although some can occur due to disease or trauma later in life. Ear deformities can be a symptom of a genetic disorder, such as CHARGE or Goldenhar syndromes, or the result of a genetic mutation.

What causes a folded ear?

Ear lidding is caused by abnormal folding of the cartilage which supports the top of the ear. The cartilage is what supports and shapes the ear. Therefore, when the ear cartilage is bent over, the ear has a folded appearance. This can vary in severity and may improve slightly in the first week after birth.

What are the different types of ears?

The results of the study indicate that the oval-shaped ear was present among about 40% of the males and 44.8% of the females in the study sample. The other types of ear such as oblique, rectangular, round, and triangular were also found in both the sexes.

Is Stahl’s ear rare?

Stahl’s ear is a rare congenital deformity in the Western world and therefore often not recognised and referred early.

What causes microtia?

The causes of microtia is, for the most part, unknown. Some infants have microtia because of a change in genes or an abnormality in a single gene. Another known cause for microtia is a medicine called isotretinoin (Accutane®), which if taken during pregnancy can lead to birth defects, including microtia.

What are railroad ears?

“Railroad track” ears: The top part (curve) of the outer ear is underdeveloped, folded over, and parallel to the curve beneath it, giving the appearance of a railroad track.

Are Uneven ears common?

Everyone has asymmetrical ears, but the degree of asymmetry is variable. An otoplasty procedure can be performed to make them both look more symmetrical.

What is Cryptotia ear?

Examples of cryptotia Cryptotia refers to an ear cartilage framework that is partially buried beneath the skin on the side of the head. The upper portion of the ear is hidden, and there may be some malformations of the cartilage of the upper ear (the scapha and the superior and inferior folds of cartilage, or crura).

What causes lidding ear deformity?

Ear lidding deformity is caused when the antihelical fold (curved cartilage in the top center of the outer ear) fails to develop completely. Without the support of the fully formed cartilage, the top of the ear folds over in varying degrees depending on the extent of the antihelical fold development.

What is ARND?

Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND): People with ARND might have intellectual disabilities and problems with behavior and learning. They might do poorly in school and have difficulties with math, memory, attention, judgment, and poor impulse control.

What are the 3 types of FASDs?

Depending on the features identified, the medical disorders labeled as FASD include: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), partial FAS (pFAS), alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD), and neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND-PAE).

What is lop ear deformity?

Constricted/lop/cup ears refer to a variety of ear deformities where the top rim of the ear (helical rim) is either folded over, wrinkled, or tight. This condition can range from mild to severe. In the mild form, the rim of the upper ear (helix) alone may be folded — this form is sometimes called lop ear.

How do you fix Stahl’s ear?

Various non-surgical and surgical methods have been introduced to correct Stahl’s ear. Treatment of Stahl’s ear should initially be attempted non-surgically in neonates whose third crus easily disappears when pressed with a fingertip. Ear splintage is a simple and effective procedure to cure Stahl’s ear.