It is quite common for children to be born with ears that, despite being fully formed, are prominent (stick out) or are an unusual shape.
This can happen because of the way the baby was lying in the womb or can sometimes be passed down from a parent. If caught early enough, ideally between 0-12 weeks, then an ear can sometimes be reshaped with the use of a small splint.
The thin plastic splint is fitted inside the outer curve of the ear in a way that improves the ears shape and is fixed in place with small sticky tapes. If necessary the ear may need to be taped close to the head if less prominence is desired. The splint will usually stay in place for around the same time as the baby’s age (i.e 2 months old = 2 months splinting) although longer may be required depending on the severity of the deformity and how well the ear responds to the treatment.
For more information on the splints we use and the kind of results that can sometimes be achieved visit www.earbuddies.com
