• Microtia is a congenital condition in which one or both of the ears do not fully develop
• Saira Hussain has developed a website to provide accessible, relevant information for those with microtia and their families
• The website was developed in conjunction with families, healthcare professionals and charity partners, including Microtia UK.

Aston University audiologist Saira Hussain has developed and launched a new website to provide accessible, relevant information for children and young people with microtia, their parents and families, and other people seeking to understand the condition.

Microtia is a condition present from birth in which one or both external ears do not fully develop. It can vary in severity and may be associated with hearing loss, particularly where the development of the ear canal is also affected. Treatments can include surgery to reconstruct the ear, prosthetics, or hearing amplification devices where the hearing is affected.

While there is lots of information available online about the condition, Saira realised that there was a need for resources that are relevant to different ages and stages of life, particularly resources that help children and young people understand the condition and learn from the experiences of others.

Saira developed the Microtia and Me website in response to that need, using research obtained as part of her PhD research, which looks at how microtia and associated hearing loss can influence everyday life, including family experiences, hearing-related challenges, social situations and the information and support people need. She interviewed 11 children and young people with microtia aged 7-20 and 12 parents to find out their experiences of microtia and hearing loss, including the questions they encounter and the importance of having information that reflects the needs of children and young people as well as adults supporting them.

This feedback, as well as feedback from healthcare professionals and charity partners including Microtia UK, informed the Microtia and Me website. It contains stories from people with experience of microtia, including on hearing and devices, appearance, education and work, and peer support and advice. There are also additional videos from doctors, audiologists and other related professionals to provide further information.

The initial findings of Saira’s research have now been published in the International Journal of Audiology. Visit www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2026.2640204 to read the paper, ‘Microtia is a ‘part of me’: a qualitative investigation into the family and child’s experience of microtia and hearing loss’ in full.

Saira said:

“I first met the Microtia UK charity in 2019 when doing previous research. After attending their annual information event in London, I had the opportunity to meet children and their families and hear first-hand about some of the concerns, worries and questions they had. These conversations highlighted the importance of understanding the lived experience of microtia and led to the initial discussions about pursuing further research in this area.

“The charity was very keen to support me with this work and I’m very grateful for their support throughout the process. Working with the charity and the microtia community has helped me make sure that the research, materials and resources I developed reflect real people’s experiences and what matters to them. Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) has been an important part of this work, helping me to keep the voices and experiences of those affected by microtia at the centre of what I was doing.

“The website is the result of this work and I’m pleased to hear and read about the positive difference it’s already making for families.”

Tina Rycroft, non-executive director at Microtia UK, said:

“Throughout this journey, Saira has always taken the time to check in with me, sharing ideas and looking at things together to make sure we were doing the best we could for those born with microtia and their families. That willingness to listen, collaborate and go the extra mile has meant so much.

"On behalf of Microtia UK, I want to recognise and thank Saira for everything she has contributed and for the care and commitment she has shown to our community. Her hard work has made a real difference, and she should be incredibly proud of what she has achieved.”