What are bat ears?

Bat ears or protruding ears are ears that stick out.

Bat ears don’t usually affect your child’s hearing. The main issue is likely to be your child’s appearance, which might affect your child’s self-esteem, their body image in childhood or their body image in adolescence.

What causes protruding ears?

Protruding ears are a congenital issue, and they’re usually not associated with any other issues or conditions.

What to do if your child has ears that stick out

If you’re concerned that your newborn has protruding ears, or your child is older and is bothered or embarrassed by their protruding ears, talk with your GP or child and family health nurse. Your child might be referred to a paediatric plastic surgeon.

How to fix protruding ears

Babies aged under 6 weeks

Special ear moulds might be recommended for your baby. These moulds are used for several weeks and can help your baby’s ears grow into position. This treatment needs to be started in the first few weeks of life when the cartilage of the ear is soft.

Older children

Older children can have simple surgery to make their ears look different. It’s important to involve your child in this decision, so it’s best to wait until your child is old enough to talk with you about it. If you and your child decide to go ahead, surgery is usually done when children are aged 5-6 years and older. Some surgeons prefer to wait until after 9 years, when the cartilage is stronger.

A paediatric plastic surgeon usually does this surgery under general anaesthetic. Your surgeon will discuss your child’s surgical options with you.

Does taping stop bat ears?

By itself, taping for protruding ears doesn’t usually work. Taping plus ear moulds might be effective in the first few weeks of life.