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. 2020 Oct;57(10):1230-1237.
doi: 10.1177/1055665620931611. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Exploring the Experiences of Adults With Microtia: A Qualitative Study

Claire Hamlet  1 , Diana Harcourt  1
Affiliations

Exploring the Experiences of Adults With Microtia: A Qualitative Study

Claire Hamlet et al. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: Microtia is a medically complex condition, with the option of surgery to address hearing and reconstruct the ear. The current study explored adults' experiences of microtia, with a particular focus on the psychosocial impact and experiences of ear reconstruction. The ultimate aim was to identify areas for support and future research that could improve patient care.

Design: Fifteen adults (12 females) aged between 20 and 62 years took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Three main themes were identified in the data: microtia as an invisible difference, surgery as a welcome opportunity, and living well with microtia. Participants had incorporated microtia into their self-concept and did not report a lasting negative impact on their lives. However, some psychosocial challenges were reported, including anxiety about showing their ears (even after reconstruction), disclosing their diagnosis to romantic partners, surgical decision-making, and feeling unsupported in the work environment.

Conclusion: Individuals with microtia may benefit from psychosocial interventions to increase confidence, access to support for treatment decision-making, and guidance around disclosing microtia to employers.

Keywords: ear reconstruction; hemifacial microsomia; microtia; psychosocial; quality of life; support.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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