MED-EL promotes early intervention for children on World Microtia Day

November 9, 2024 – (Innsbruck, Austria): Microtia, a congenital condition affecting the outer ear, is more than a visible difference; it often results in hearing loss. On World Microtia Day (November 9), MED-EL aims to raise awareness of the hearing loss often associated with microtia and advocates for early intervention to support age-appropriate language development in children affected.

• Approximately 1 in 10,000 children is born with microtia (translating to ‘small ear’)
• Microtia is often accompanied by aural atresia, a malformation of the ear canal and middle ear, making hearing loss a common consequence
• Early hearing support is critical for age-appropriate speech development
• Non-surgical bone conduction hearing systems provide an early treatment option for young children
• For children with microtia aged five years and older, MED-EL offers bone conduction implants

Microtia (meaning „small ear“ in Greek), is a deformity of the outer ear that can present in varying levels of severity, categorized into four grades.  

• In Grade 1, the ear retains most of its form but shows minor alterations
• In Grade 2, parts of the ear structure are underdeveloped or absent.
• Grade 3, the most common type, often presents with only a small, peanut-shaped portion of the earlobe.
• Grade 4, the most severe, involves a complete absence of the external ear.

Microtia may affect one or both ears and is often coupled with atresia (“absence of a natural opening in the body”), which blocks sound from reaching the inner ear, leading to moderate to severe conductive hearing loss. About 60% of microtia-atresia cases are linked to syndromes such as Goldenhar or Treacher-Collins.

Impacts beyond aesthetics 

For children with microtia and associated hearing loss, early treatment is vital to prevent delays in speech development. Beyond hearing, the visible differences in ear structure can impact a child's self-confidence and overall mental well-being. Surgical ear reconstruction is one option to address the aesthetic challenges of microtia.

Microtia and bone conduction

Conventional hearing aids are not effective for microtia-atresia because the malformed outer ear and ear canal prevent sound from passing through, and the misshapen ear does not allow a hearing aid to be placed in or behind it. Bone conduction technology provides a successful alternative, conducting sound from the skull directly to the inner ear. Hearing systems based on the principle of bone conduction conduct sound from the skull directly to the inner ear. 

Pioneering innovative research, MED-EL has developed modern bone conduction systems, suitable for all ages, including infants and young children. Non-surgical hearing solutions are essential for infants and young children with microtia-atresia, whose skulls are still thin and still developing. These systems attach to the side of the head with an adhesive adapter, delivering clear sound despite ear deformities and enabling age-appropriate speech development. 

For children five years and older, MED-EL’s BONEBRIDGE bone conduction implants become an option. These implants transmit sound directly to the inner ear through the intact skin, bypassing the malformed outer ear. The external component is magnetically held on the side of the head, ensuring effective hearing restoration that closely mimics natural hearing pathways. This transition from adhesive systems to implants provides children with stable, reliable hearing support as they grow.

A life transformed: Daniel’s story

For Daniel, a 10-year-old from Spain, a BONEBRIDGE implant brought the transformative experience of hearing both in everyday life and in his passion for music. "My BONEBRIDGE and SAMBA 2 audio processor allowed me to hear so many sounds I didn’t even know I was missing,” he shares. “It changed everything. I can now play the cello and enjoy music without any limitations.”
His journey with microtia-atresia began with a non-surgical bone conduction device, but as he grew, he and his family decided on a more permanent solution. “Now, with the implant, I can participate in conversations without needing things repeated, and I feel more connected to everything around me,” he explains. Today, Daniel practices the cello daily, competes in music contests, and enjoys his favourite sports without restriction – proof that hearing implants can be life-changing for children with microtia-atresia.

Expert insight on early intervention

“It is essential that parents seek early treatment for children with microtia-atresia to address hearing loss and provide access to sound, supporting critical milestones in speech and language development,” says Kevin Vukovich, Senior Product Manager for MED-EL’s BONEBRIDGE implant. “Whether it is a newborn utilizing ADHEAR, our non-surgical bone conduction hearing system, or an older child or adult with the transcutaneous BONEBRIDGE hearing implant, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of hearing solutions to address each patient's unique needs throughout their lifetime.”

Early diagnosis and intervention are essential for children with microtia and associated hearing loss. Consulting a pediatric audiologist or ENT specialist can help identify effective treatment options and support the child’s development.

Further details on microtia-atresia and available hearing solutions can be found on the MED-EL website.

About MED-EL 

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has more than 2,800 employees from around 80 nations and 30 locations worldwide.
The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 137 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com   

CEO

Doz. DI Dr DDr med. h.c. Ingeborg Hochmair

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