The 9th of November is Microtia Awareness Day. This is a day that’s acknowledged and celebrated internationally, and is a chance to raise the profile of microtia and related conditions, and to celebrate the lives and achievements of all those living with microtia.
In this special Microtia Awareness Day blog, we’re taking a closer look at what microtia is and what causes it. We’re also exploring how it’s linked to atresia, and how these conditions impact those who are affected.
We’ll also be explaining how you can get involved in Microtia Awareness Day 2024.
What Is Microtia?
Microtia is an under-development of the outer ear, i.e. the part of our ear that we can usually see (also called the ‘pinna’). There are different types of microtia, and someone may have an ear that is mostly developed but slightly smaller than expected, or their ear may be entirely absent, i.e. with the outer part completely missing.
Microtia affects approximately 1 in every 5,000 babies born in the UK and is slightly more common in boys than girls. In most cases, only one ear is affected but in around one in every ten cases, both ears are affected (known as bilateral microtia).
What Is Atresia?
Since the outer ear and ear canal develop at the same time during pregnancy, many children born with microtia will also have atresia, which is an absence of the ear canal.
In some cases, it can look as though a baby has an ear canal, but on further investigation, it’s found to lead nowhere – often referred to as a ‘blind end.’
What Causes Microtia and Atresia?
Microtia and atresia happen when the ear doesn’t properly develop during the early stages of pregnancy. Sometimes microtia and atresia are associated with other conditions or craniofacial abnormalities, which may have a genetic component, for example, Treacher Collins Syndrome, Goldenhar Syndrome or Crouzon Syndrome.
However, in most cases, microtia is isolated (what’s known as non-syndromic) and a child won’t have any other symptoms. In these cases, the cause of microtia or atresia are unclear, but it’s typically a random, one-off event, and most babies with microtia are born into families who have no history of it.
It’s important to understand that microtia and atresia aren’t caused by anything a pregnant woman does or doesn’t do during pregnancy. And while there are some medications that can increase the risk of microtia when taken during pregnancy, there is often no cause to be found.
If your child’s medical team feels that their microtia or atresia might have a clear cause or could be related to another condition, then this will be discussed with you at an early stage, and you’ll be able to ask any questions and raise any concerns you might have.
Treatment Options For Microtia and Atresia
There are several treatment options for those living with microtia and atresia, including surgical options such as ear reconstruction. Prosthetic ears can also be worn if a person is self-conscious about the appearance of their affected ear, though these obviously won’t improve the function of the ear or the individual’s hearing.
Not everyone with microtia and/or atresia will want or require surgery, however, and some opt to ‘do nothing’ and embrace their differences.
Most children born with microtia and/or atresia will have some degree of hearing loss, but this can be remedied with a hearing device known as a bone conduction hearing aid (BCHA) or bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA).
This is a type of hearing aid that can be worn externally on a headband (also called a softband) to improve hearing. A BAHA can also be surgically implanted, much like a cochlear implant.
Raising Awareness and Understanding of Microtia
Microtia is a relatively common condition, and yet very few people have heard of it, unless they personally know someone who is affected. That’s why Microtia Awareness Day is so important.
The more people that know about microtia and atresia, the more acceptance and understanding there is for those living with it, and the less anxious parents will be when their baby is born with the condition.
Here’s how you can get involved in raising awareness this Microtia Awareness Day.
Wear Orange
Orange is the colour of national charity Microtia UK. In previous years, they’ve arranged for national landmarks such as Brighton Palace Pier to be lit up orange on November 9th in recognition of Microtia Awareness Day.
You could do the same on a smaller scale by wearing something orange on the day. This can be a great conversation starter and a way to raise awareness in your school, community or workplace.
There are also special t-shirts, ribbons and wristbands that you can buy, with proceeds going to charities working with children and their families.
Give a Talk
If you or your child is affected by microtia or atresia, then giving a talk at a local school is a fantastic way to raise awareness and highlight the importance of accepting and celebrating one another’s differences.
Fundraising
Fundraising for your chosen microtia charity is another way to get involved in Microtia Awareness Day 2024. Whether it’s a coffee morning, a carboot sale, a craft fair or a fun-run, there’s no shortage of fundraising possibilities. Microtia UK have even managed to secure a spot for one brave supporter in next year’s London Marathon!
Social Media
You can get involved online by participating in the conversation and using hashtags. You could post about your own experiences of microtia and atresia or change your profile picture to display an awareness ribbon or logo to help raise global awareness.
Get In Touch
At BAHA Accessories, we know how important it is to raise awareness of conditions such as microtia and atresia, that’s why we fully support and embrace Microtia Awareness Day.
If you’ve been told that you or your child might benefit from a BCHA or BAHA, you’ll find lots of useful information, tips and advice over on our blog.
If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we’ll do our best to help. We’re also more than happy to talk you through our various products and designs and how they work to make sure that they’re the right choice for you.
You can contact us by phone on 07432 620644 or drop us an email at sales@bahaaccessoriesuk.com. Alternatively, you can fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
We look forward to hearing from you!