The Social Perception of Microtia and Auricular Reconstruction

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the social perception of microtia and quantify the effect of reconstruction on socially perceived attributes.

Methods: Parental consent was obtained for peri-reconstruction photographs in a patient with unilateral grade 3 microtia without an underlying craniofacial syndrome. With computer simulation, the normal, preoperative microtia, and postoperative reconstruction ear were isolated and blended into the oblique and lateral views of that volunteer's face to isolate ear morphology as a variable against a constant facial baseline. These photographs were embedded into Web-based surveys with visual analogue scales to capture social perception data and then were sourced to general population adults.

Results: Survey respondents totaled 631. On average, the face with the microtia ear was perceived to be less friendly (P = .015), less healthy (P = .022), and less successful (P = .005) than the same face with the "normal" ear. There were no statistically significant differences in socially perceived attributes between the face with the normal ear and the face with the reconstructed ear.

Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the social perception consequences of microtia and microtia reconstruction in children. These findings may explain the significant psychosocial distress experienced by these patients by exploring the social perception of specific attributes perceived. Lastly, this study may better inform microtia patients and their physicians on the impact of auricular reconstruction on third party's perception of social attributes.

Level of evidence: N/A Laryngoscope, 131:195-200, 2021.

Keywords: Microtia; auricular reconstruction; external ear; social perception.