Anthropometric growth study of the ear.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional anthropometric observational study
PubMed 1643061 · doi:10.1597/1545-1569_1992_029_0324_agsote_2.3.co_2
What was done
Anthropometric measurements of ear width and length were analyzed across 1,590 North American Caucasian individuals aged 1 to 18 years to establish age- and sex-specific growth patterns and maturation milestones.
What was found
Ear width reached 93.5% of adult size by age 1 (2.3 mm less than the mean at age 18) and 96.7% by age 5. Ear length reached 76.4% of adult size at age 1 (requiring 12.3 mm more to reach age-18 size) and 86.6% by age 5 (requiring 8.2 additional mm). Ear width reached mature size at 6 years in females and 7 years in males. Ear length reached mature size at 12 years in females and 13 years in males, remaining shorter than at 18 years by a mean of 1.1 to 1.4 mm.
Why it matters
These normative growth data establish pediatric timelines for auricular development, informing surgical timing for reconstructive ear procedures.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional rather than longitudinal, and findings are derived entirely from North American Caucasians, limiting generalizability to other populations. Variability metrics such as standard deviations were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Children reach their adult external ear size around age 10.