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The Microtia Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado welcomes children from birth to 21 years of age as new patients. The microtia team cares for the whole child – not just the condition. We are the only clinic dedicated to caring for kids with microtia conditions in the state of Colorado. At the Clinic, patients and their families get answers to questions about appearance, hearing loss, treatments and everyday life.
What is microtia/atresia?
Microtia and atresia affect how an ear looks and works. Children born with one or both of these conditions may have a smaller than normal ear and/or hearing loss.
Compassionate care for the entire family
At Children’s Colorado, treatment for microtia centers on the entire family, because differences in appearance and hearing loss affect more than the patient. Our team talks through family concerns, like a mother’s fears about her effect on the child during pregnancy.
What to expect at your visit to the Microtia Clinic
Audiologist Dr. Hedman talks and plays with patients after Clinic.
At the clinic, families discuss their child’s health needs and wishes with a team of microtia specialists. We offer treatment options and a unique plan for each patient. Appointments last 2 to 3 hours.
After meeting with our specialists, families meet and talk with each other about:
What growing up with microtia/atresia is like
Treatment choices
Everyday life
The care team at Children’s Colorado includes:
Board-certified pediatric ear, nose and throat (ENT) facial plastic surgeon
Audiologists (hearing specialist) trained to work with kids
Anaplastologist (ear prosthesis specialist)
Family consultant affected by microtia/atresia conditions
Additional resources as needed, including parent guides, a psychologist and a social worker who specialize in hearing loss
Our specialists will talk with you about:
How to support your child in his/her hearing and ear shape choices
Ways to help your child manage hearing loss
Building self-advocacy skills in social situations
Being different than other kids who have two “normal” ears
Children and families visit the clinic every one or two years to learn about new research and to talk with each other. Regular visits support kids with microtia as they grow up and start to make personal choices about their ears and hearing. Visits also build confidence when kids talk with other families in a safe environment about growing up with microtia.
Why choose the Microtia Clinic at Children’s Colorado?
Early intervention empowers families
Experts in the Microtia Clinic see kids with microtia/atresia when they are infants, or as early as possible.
Seeing a specialist early:
Provides families with counseling
Enables patients to make choices about his/her ear
Introduces families to other children and adults with microtia/atresia
Educates families with current and accurate information
Helps parents form a plan to manage their child’s hearing
Connects patients with other services, as needed
Children’s Colorado welcomes new patients regardless of prior care.
Pediatric trained experts in a kid-friendly environment
Since June 2010, the microtia team has seen over 250 patients. Our team is specially trained to care for kids. Because every patient who comes into the clinic is an infant, child or young adult, we provide compassionate care in a kid-friendly environment.
Multiple treatment options to support personal choices
Our team understands that each child is unique, which is why we offer different rehabilitative and treatment options for microtia to meet individual needs and personal choices.
Treatment options for the appearance of microtia include:
Leaving the ear natural, or as-is
Completing a multi-stage reconstructive rib graft surgery
Creating a custom-made ear prosthesis
Hearing treatment options include hearing aids and assistive technologies that can be used with all three appearance treatment options
Referrals to other physicians/specialty clinics, as needed
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Provider affiliation
Children's Hospital Colorado providers
Children’s Hospital Colorado providers are faculty members of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Our specialists are nationally ranked and globally recognized for delivering the best possible care in pediatrics.
Community providers
Some healthcare professionals listed on our website have medical privileges to practice at Children’s Hospital Colorado, but they are community providers. They schedule and bill separately for their services, and are not employees of the Hospital.