Pediatric Medicine P rotruding Ear Correction Prominent or protruding ears in childhood is a relatively common deformity. The degree of severity can vary. The deformity is usually due to a lack of bending of the ear cartilage during development so that the ear extends directly out from the side of the head instead of lying back against the head. Sometimes, it is due to extra amounts of cartilage being present in the center depression of the ear, with normal folds and curves being present. Although protruding ears pose no health risk, there are children who are injured socially by this deformity.
Normal children learn that physical appearance is important to be within certain ranges.
Your child will soon get tired of the constant ridicule about the size and shape of his ears. The decision to correct such a physical problem is purely optional but may go a long way to restore your child's self-esteem. An in-depth discussion about the possibility of correcting the protruding ear should be obtained from your physician. The operation is best performed between the ages of 4 and 5 years when your child can cooperate with the care of his ears after surgery and before the teasing and taunting of school-aged children becomes most severe. This timing is also important to allow for the development of the ear to a degree so that surgery will not affect the later growth of the ear.