by ZM1 » Mon Feb 12, 2018 10:03 am
I haven’t posted before but would like to share our story in the hope it might help.
Our daughter was born with folded ears. The doctors assured us they would go back naturally! An NCT friend whose family were medics had heard of ‘Ear Buddies’ pioneered by Mr David Gault, an eminent Ear Surgeon. He had worked at Great Ormond Street amongst other hospitals and had seen enough babies and children to know they do not normally go back on their own. The ear buddy is a simple, painless splint designed to catch the point in time when the baby’s ear cartilage naturally hardens, setting the ear in place further back (if only all parents know about it!). This works in most cases but unfortunately our daughter’s ears remained so soft, we knew she would need surgery one day. We waited until such time that she noticed her ears and other children too. We were very anxious about putting her under a general anaesthetic for what we perceived ultimately to be cosmetic surgery. Children started to tease her and so the decision became a natural one. She was aged 9/10 when we went back to see Mr Gault. He remembered her case! He is patient led, making sure the individual child really wants the operation. He is charismatic, kind, talented and one (if not the) top Ear Surgeons. She had her operation last year (age nearly 10). He was very honest that for a few days after it would be terribly painful and it was (terribly). It also has to be covered privately (as I understand it not available on the NHS unless there is an hearing issue). She had to wear a headband (like a sports sweatband) for a good six weeks or so after but the result is absolutely incredible. She would tell you it has changed her life and was completely worth it. Six months on we are still careful to clean the ears from the back but you cannot see any sign of stitches - you simply wouldn’t know if you looked at her ears that she had had an operation but it absolutely changes how she looks! She calls Mr Gault her ‘Magic Medicine Man’. I hope this helps but would be happy to chat if you would like to.
I haven’t posted before but would like to share our story in the hope it might help.
Our daughter was born with folded ears. The doctors assured us they would go back naturally! An NCT friend whose family were medics had heard of ‘Ear Buddies’ pioneered by Mr David Gault, an eminent Ear Surgeon. He had worked at Great Ormond Street amongst other hospitals and had seen enough babies and children to know they do not normally go back on their own. The ear buddy is a simple, painless splint designed to catch the point in time when the baby’s ear cartilage naturally hardens, setting the ear in place further back (if only all parents know about it!). This works in most cases but unfortunately our daughter’s ears remained so soft, we knew she would need surgery one day. We waited until such time that she noticed her ears and other children too. We were very anxious about putting her under a general anaesthetic for what we perceived ultimately to be cosmetic surgery. Children started to tease her and so the decision became a natural one. She was aged 9/10 when we went back to see Mr Gault. He remembered her case! He is patient led, making sure the individual child really wants the operation. He is charismatic, kind, talented and one (if not the) top Ear Surgeons. She had her operation last year (age nearly 10). He was very honest that for a few days after it would be terribly painful and it was (terribly). It also has to be covered privately (as I understand it not available on the NHS unless there is an hearing issue). She had to wear a headband (like a sports sweatband) for a good six weeks or so after but the result is absolutely incredible. She would tell you it has changed her life and was completely worth it. Six months on we are still careful to clean the ears from the back but you cannot see any sign of stitches - you simply wouldn’t know if you looked at her ears that she had had an operation but it absolutely changes how she looks! She calls Mr Gault her ‘Magic Medicine Man’. I hope this helps but would be happy to chat if you would like to.
