González Andrade, Fabricio
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González Andrade, Fabricio
Main Affiliation
Quito
Email
fabriciogonzalez@uti.edu.ec
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Scopus Author ID
8720668100

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Hearing Loss Profiles in Sporadic and Familial Microtia: Clinical Insights From an Ecuadorian Cohort

2025 , González Andrade, Fabricio , Fausto Coello , Edwin Andrade , Henry Vásconez

Microtia is a congenital anomaly of the external ear that often leads to hearing loss due to associated auditory canal and middle ear malformations. While right‐ear predominance and conductive hearing loss are well‐documented, few studies have compared anatomical and audiological differences between sporadic and familial cases, especially in underrepresented populations.ObjectiveTo compare the clinical, anatomical, and auditory characteristics of patients with sporadic versus familial microtia in an Ecuadorian cohort.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted on 146 patients with microtia, classified as either sporadic or familial. Demographic, clinical, and risk factor data were collected through structured interviews. Audiological evaluations included auditory evoked potentials, otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry, pure‐tone audiometry, and speech audiometry, based on patient age and canal patency. Statistical analysis included Mann–Whitney U and Chi‐square tests (p < 0.05).ResultsRight‐ear involvement was most common (45.45%). Grade 3 microtia was the most prevalent, while Grade 4 was observed exclusively in familial cases. Conductive hearing loss predominated (74.67% left ear, 83.33% right ear). Although no significant differences in hearing loss type or severity were found between groups, familial cases showed a trend toward more severe impairment. Otoacoustic emissions and stapedial reflexes were more frequently absent in right ears. Pure tone perception and speech recognition were also more impaired on the right side.ConclusionMicrotia is most commonly right‐sided and associated with significant conductive hearing loss. Familial cases may present with more severe features. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential to mitigate developmental consequences, particularly in resource‐limited settings.

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Demographic, Functional, and Risk Factors Characterization in Ecuadorian Mestizo Patients With Microtia: A Retrospective Study

2024 , González Andrade, Fabricio , Fausto Coello , Ramiro López-Pulles , Guillermo Fuenmayor , Edwin Andrade , Henry Vásconez

Objective: This paper compares demographic, morphological, functional, and risk factors between isolated and familial forms of microtia in Ecuadorian mestizo patients. Methods: The authors did an epidemiological, and retrospective study with 112 patients divided into isolated microtia (n = 91) and familial microtia (n = 21). Patients with syndromic microtia were not included. Results: In isolated microtia, the mean age was 11.80 ± 16.9, and the most prevalent age group was from 5 to 9 years, with 45.0%; males were 58.2%, and 91.2% of patients were born in a city above 2500 meters about sea level. In familial microtia, the mean age was 15.57 ± 17.2. There were no statistically significant differences between the analyzed variables. In isolated microtia, 41.8% of patients had bilateral involvement, 40.7% had grade 1 microtia in the right ear (RE), and grade 1 in the left ear was 47.3%; external auditory canal atresia of RE was present in 62.6%, and in left ear in 31.6%. External auditory canal atresia sidedness was mostly unilateral in both groups. Most patients did not have tags or pits (78% and 81% in RE and 85.7% and 71.4%). Most patients had moderate hearing loss in both ears. Conclusion: The authors found an association between both microtia forms with external auditory canal atresia in RE; only 20% of patients had unilateral auricular tags or pits in both groups. The authors also found a high incidence (18.75%) of familial microtia, which suggests a distinct pathological genetic component than the more prevalent isolated cases. The authors found a high association of microtia cases from the Ecuadorian highlands above 2500 meters about sea level (over 90%). The presence of “social” intake of alcohol during pregnancy showed over twice the chance of having a child born with microtia.

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