Datong SWI

Microtia

While we were waiting for travel approval from China, my family tried to learn all that we could about Microtia. This is one of the medical conditions our daughter was born with. We are not Doctors, but this is some of the information that we have found.

Microtia is a birth deformity of the ear. It effects approximately 1 in 7,000 people. The term microtia literally means "small ear". In 90% of cases only one ear is involved. More often on the right side. At this time, the exact cause of microtia is unclear. People with microtia often also have atresia which is the lack of an outer ear canal. Many times the bones of the middle ear are also involved. A CT scan is used to determine the status of the middle ear. Some people may have underdeveloped bony and soft tissues on the involved side of the face. This is know as hemifacial microtia. Approximately 15% of people with microtia have facial nerve weakness. There is also a higher incidence of kidney and heart abnormalities among people with microtia. A renal ultrasound is used to determine the status of the kidneys.
When a person with unilateral microtia has normal hearing in the unaffected ear than most of the time a hearing aid is not required. They will have trouble hearing in crowds and often have trouble knowing which direction a sound is coming from.