HNY Policy and Pathway Repository - East Riding

Ear prominence 

This intervention is commissioned if:  

• the child is aged under 5 years AND 
• correction of ear prominence is required to support wearing a hearing aid. 

OR 

• the child is aged between 5-18 years at the date of referral AND 
• there is objectively significant ear prominence AND 
• there is evidence that the child is experiencing psychological distress (not only the parents’ perception or anticipation of the child’s distress) due to ear prominence AND

the distress has not been resolved by other appropriate interventions (e.g. psychological therapy, anti-bullying measures). 

Prominent ears may lead to significant psychosocial dysfunction for children and adolescents and impact on the education of young children as a result of teasing and truancy. The national service  

framework for children defines childhood as ending at 19 years. The upper threshold in the policy is to allow for time between referral and intervention. Children under the age of five rarely experience teasing.  

 

It is important that it is the child who desires surgical correction; referral should not be made for children who appear indifferent or opposed to the idea of surgery. Parents requesting surgery for their child in order to prevent psychological distress when their child starts school or at some time in the future should be advised that referral should wait until their child specifically requests treatment. 

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