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When your child was first born, they seemed to be the most perfect human being in the world. However upon further inspection and observation by the doctor, your child was diagnosed with microtia. This is a condition where the ear did not completely form before birth. Even though the physical deformity is what is noticed first, it can also affect the hearing of the afflicted child. As a parent, it is only right for you to want to give your child the best opportunity at life. Sometimes things that are beyond your control can affect your dreams and realities for your child. It is not uncommon for parents to blame themselves for this birth defect. However, what you need to remember is that even though you may not know what caused the condition to occur, you can do something about it. Your child does not have to go through life at a disadvantage. Keep in mind that even though your child's ear is misshaped, they still have some ability to hear. With the help of plastic surgery, your child's birth defect can be made so that it is not noticeable to anyone else. There are a few things you need to know about microtia to help you better understand your child's condition. First, this is something that can affect one or both ears. It affects thousands of children every year. In some extreme cases, children are born without any external auditory canal, while others are born with less severe cases. It is far more common for children to be born with the unilateral version of microtia. This is where it has only occurred on one side. In this case your child can retain up to 40 percent of his or her hearing. This means that the inside of the ear is structurally normal, but since the outer portion is defective, there is a substantial amount of hearing loss. All is not lost if you have a child that has microtia. A surgeon that specializes in ear reconstruction can surgically create a whole new appendage for your child to look normal. You have the option of having a completely synthetic replacement or a replacement made from your child's own tissue. It is completely up to you which material the surgeon uses. However, if you choose to have an ear constructed from your child's own tissue, you need to be aware that the surgeon will use tissue and rib cartilage. Depending on the severity of the deformity, your child's surgeon may decide to use the cartilage to create the ear and or reposition the lobe so that it sits much closer to their scalp. It doesn't matter if your child was born with microtia. It doesn't take away from their uniqueness. Even though they may have a slight deformity that makes them a little different, you can get treatment for their condition so that they can live a normal and productive life where their deformity is not so noticeable. When your child has been diagnosed with microtia, you will need to learn about it. Read more about this condition at: http://www.atlantaear.com.
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