Neonatal Ear Deformities
It’s not uncommon for newborns to be born with ear deformities, and as a parent, this can be concerning at first. These deformities can range from mild to more noticeable differences in shape, folding, or positioning of the outer ear. Most of these conditions only effect the appearance ofthe ear and do not affect your baby’s hearing or development. Some common types include prominent ears, lidding (where the top of the ear folds over), constricted ears, or Stahl’s ear (where an extra fold causes the ear to look pointed). In many cases, these deformities are caused by how the baby was positioned in the womb, compressed during delivery or from the complex cartilage folding required to shape an ear.
One of the encouraging facts about newborn ear deformities is that many of them can be corrected without surgery if treated early enough. Our team uses two systems to treat neonatal ear deformities. Ear Buddies are a pre-fabricated silicone wrapped bendable wire used for management of some newborn ear deformities. The Ear Buddies can be applied by the parents or professionally by our team. The EarWell neonatal ear molding system is a non-surgical treatment option designed for infants in the first few weeks of life. This system uses a soft, custom-fitted mold that gently reshapes the baby’s ear over time. The ideal time to begin this treatment is within the first several weeks of life, while the baby’s cartilage is still soft and moldable due to maternal estrogen in their system.
The EarWell® system is completely non-invasive and painless. It is usually applied by a pediatric ENT specialist or plastic surgeon and stays in place for several weeks. During this time, your baby can continue with all normal activities, including sleeping, feeding, and bathing (with some precautions). Most babies don’t even notice the devices, and parents often see dramatic improvements in the shape of the ear within a few weeks. The success rate is very high when treatment begins early — over 90% of cases show significant or complete correction.
If ear molding is not started within the first few weeks, the cartilage begins to stiffen and non-surgical options become less effective. In such cases, surgery (otoplasty) may be considered later in childhood, usually around age five or older. This is why early evaluation is so important. If you notice anything unusual about your baby’s ears, it’s a good idea to bring it up with your pediatrician right away. They can refer you to our team who can assess whether your child is a candidate for ear molding.