The Social Perception of Microtia and Auricular Reconstruction in Children.

Rationale: Microtia is a congenital craniofacial condition characterized by the underdevelopment of the external ear. Children with microtia become aware of their deformity at a young age, and this awareness intensifies in school, where they often face social comparison. This can impact both their mental well-being and social standing. In this process, not only their self-image but also others' perceptions play important roles. Given the significant time children spend with peers, it is crucial to investigate how children of similar ages perceive microtia and whether this perception changes after auricular reconstruction.

Objective: To examine the social perception of children regarding peers with microtia and auricular reconstruction.

Study design: The study is of cross-sectional nature. Study population: The study population consists of primary and secondary school children aged 6 to 18 years old.

Intervention: All children will be shown one of the following photos: a child with a normal ear, a child with preoperative microtia, or a child with a postoperative reconstructed ear. Subsequently, all children will evaluate the photo they have seen using 7 questions based on a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from a score of 0 to 10.

Study endpoints: The study includes several endpoints. It will examine children's perception of peers with a normal ear, microtia, or a reconstructed ear in terms of the following social attributes: athleticism, confidence, friendliness, health, intelligence, popularity and willingness to interact. Additionally, it will explore whether there is a difference in the perception of primary school children and secondary school children regarding the above-mentioned social attributes.