Non-Invasive Ear Molding
At Rady Children’s Hospital, our ENT specialists offer a non-invasive, custom ear molding procedure designed to gently reshape your infant’s ears. Recognizing that even perfect newborns can have ears that look awkward, misshapen, or misfolded, our tailored approach takes advantage of the soft, moldable cartilage present during the early weeks of life.
Critical Timing and Treatment Process
Ear molding must begin before your baby reaches 6 weeks of age. Our custom-fitted ear molding devices are worn continuously for 2 weeks. After this period, we remove the device and carefully examine your child’s ears. We reapply the device if the ear has not been corrected to the desired shape. This process is repeated every 2 weeks with in-person visits until acceptable improvement is achieved, with the full treatment duration typically ranging from 2 to 6 weeks.
Avoiding Future Surgery
Early intervention is essential. If your baby’s ear deformity is not treated before 6 weeks of age, the opportunity for non-surgical correction is lost. In such cases, your child may have to wait until age 5 for surgical correction, known as otoplasty. This delay is necessary because the ear must grow sufficiently before otoplasty can be performed.
Insurance Coverage
Unlike commercial ear molding devices—which are not covered by insurance—we design each mold to fit your child’s unique needs using medical-grade materials in our clinic. Our experienced ENT team is dedicated to providing a safe, effective, and personalized treatment plan that helps guide your child’s ears toward a natural, balanced contour, potentially preventing the need for future surgery.