The norm is considered to be the distance from the ears to the skull, which is no more than 30⁰. If it is larger, then you fell into the category of people who have protruding ears. About 50% of the population of our planet is familiar with this problem firsthand, but this defect can cause a minimum of discomfort if it is not too noticeable. When the ears are very protruding, and it cannot be hidden or masked, complexes appear and the problem must be eliminated.
Many people wonder if lop-earedness is inherited? It has been scientifically proven that this defect can be genetic or appear as a result of intrauterine developmental disorders of the auricles. At the same time, it is not necessary for the mother or father to have protruding ears; such a "legacy" can be obtained even from distant relatives. It is for this reason that the defect occurs in almost half of the world's inhabitants.
Degrees of deviation
Lop-earedness in children, the causes of which may be associated with genetics or abnormal development inside the womb, is divided into 3 degrees:
- An angle of 31 to 45⁰ is formed between the ear and the skull.
- An angle of 46 to 90⁰ forms between the ear and the skull.
- An angle greater than 91⁰ is formed between the ear and the skull.
Most often, both ears are protruded in almost the same way, but it also happens that one of them is more adjacent to the head, and the other is less. In this case, the problem is especially noticeable.
When to start correction
An aesthetic defect is visible with the naked eye from the very birth of a child. The sooner you start working on fixing it, the more likely you are to get the desired result. Before correcting lop-earedness in infants, you need to consult with an otolaryngologist. The doctor must confirm that the baby does not have hearing problems, infections or other illnesses that may worsen during the correction.
Special ear pads are the most effective and painless way to eliminate lop-eared ears. They are made of silicone and must be worn constantly. The material is hypoallergenic and very elastic, therefore it does not give the baby any unpleasant sensations, but fixes the ears in the correct position and contributes to the correction of the defect.
It is necessary to wear such linings until the moment when the child is 6 months old - in the first six months the cartilage is the most plastic, therefore it is easy to correct.
Important! Some parents use medical tape or double-sided tape to stick their ears to their heads, but this is extremely dangerous. These materials are irritating to baby's delicate skin and are best avoided.
Tight-fitting scarves and hats should also not be worn on the baby - this will cause him discomfort and may even negatively affect the development of hearing.
Elimination of the defect after six months
If you did not pay due attention to the baby's problem on time, then after six months it will be quite difficult to eliminate it without surgery. Before you can correct a child's lop-earedness, you need to really assess the degree of deformity. If the ears are not very protruding, then you can choose a suitable hairstyle, the hair in some cases hides the flaw very well.
You can also purchase special correctors, with which you can "glue" the ears to the head. They are made of silicone, hypoallergenic glue is applied to them, so the child will not feel irritation and discomfort.
Advantages of silicone correctors:
- health safety;
- invisibility to others, small transparent plates are not visible behind the ears;
- efficiency - the result is noticeable immediately after fixing;
- comfort when wearing - with correctors you can swim in artificial and natural reservoirs, one pair is enough for 7 days.
However, this method will only mask the problem or fix it to a minor extent.
Correction of the ear cartilage is possible up to 6-7 years, while they are still forming, after this age, conservative methods of eliminating the defect are completely ineffective.
Surgical intervention
There is only one reliable way to eliminate the problem, which helps to remove lop-earedness at any age by 100%, this is otoplasty. The operation is considered uncomplicated, it is done under local or general anesthesia. Depending on the degree of the defect, it lasts from half an hour to 2 hours. The rehabilitation period is also easy in 2-3 weeks. During this time, the patient may experience some discomfort and must wear a special bandage.
It is allowed to do otoplasty from 6-7 years old, when the auricles are already fully formed, and the degree of their deformation can be fully assessed. Before removing lop-earedness, the patient undergoes an examination and passes a series of tests to completely exclude possible complications.
Already a few hours after the surgery, you can go home, but periodically you need to visit a doctor to be sure that the healing process of the stitches is proceeding correctly.
Benefits of the operation:
- 100% guarantee of elimination of the deficiency;
- relatively low cost;
- the minimum number of contraindications;
- the ability to correct lop-earedness at any age;
- simple and short period of rehabilitation;
- preservation of the result for life.
Drawing conclusions
If you find that your child has aesthetic problems, they need to be addressed as quickly as possible. Only up to six months there is a chance that the correction of lop-earedness with conservative methods will give good results. In the future, the defect can only be masked or slightly corrected. The operation is a guarantee of eliminating all problems, it will help to quickly get rid of the deficiency.
Those who do not dare to undergo otoplasty or have contraindications to it can only hide protruding ears with the help of special hairstyles, silicone correctors, hats or accessories.
If you are unable to have the operation, learn to love yourself and your ears as they are, take your disadvantage as a feature, and you will notice how much more confident you will feel.
