Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Trends in Microtia and Anotia Care

Citation: Jagasia, P., Alter, N., Chaker, S., Hiller, A., Savitz, B., Cornely, R., Galdyn, I., & Pontell, M. (2025). Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Trends in Microtia and Anotia Care. The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 10.1097/SCS.0000000000011495. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000011495

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Background

Some children are born with very small or completely missing ears. These conditions are called microtia and anotia. In the United States, these ear problems happen most often in Hispanic, Latino, and Asian families. These children may have trouble hearing and might feel different from other kids.

Methods

Scientists used a large medical database to study 2,928 children who had ear surgery between 2017 and 2023. They looked at the children's race and how much their families earned. They also checked how old the children were when they finally got their operations.

Results

Conclusion

There is a "time gap" in medical care. Children from minority families often wait longer for help because of their background or a lack of money. Waiting longer can make it harder for children to do well in school and feel good about themselves.

Future Directions