Read the How It Works page - this is full of useful information about Early Ear Correction™ and will give you a good base knowledge on splintage. For further information, the FAQs page provides the answers to some interesting questions raised by parents who have previously fitted EarBuddies®.
Click here if you would prefer to print your instructions, though it is worth bearing in mind that the online instructions contain additional content.
Give baby a bath with particular focus on degreasing the ears. Using gentle baby soap, roll the ears between your fingers to ensure they are thoroughly clean, paying particular attention to the folds and creases. Let baby play in the bath to give the soap time to work, then gently rub the ears again with your fingers. Rinse off and dry the ears, rubbing gently with a clean soft towel. Let your baby’s ears dry for AT LEAST 90 minutes before fitting the splints.
Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film is used to prevent skin inflammation beneath the EarBuddies splint, behind the ear and beneath the adhesive tapes. The adhesive tapes can be applied on top of this film, once it has dried. Click here for more information on Cavilon.
If your baby's skin is sensitive, you live in a humid country, your baby is older than 1 month or you have difficulty keeping the tapes dry, then Cavilon is strongly recommended. If this is your first fitting, and you aren't aware that your baby's skin is particularly sensitive, we would still recommend applying Cavilon before you begin, as a moisture barrier. If your baby is under 1 month of age, the need for Cavilon is less.
(CRYPTOTIA ONLY: If you are fitting EarBuddies to treat Cryptotia, you can skip Step 4)
Select which condition you are treating:
A
See Figure A - Apply the splint to the scaphal hollow (A1), inside the rim (helix) (A2) of the ear, starting just above the triangular fossa (A3), and working backwards. Hold the splint in position.
B
See Figure B - Remove one narrow tape strip from its backing. Starting from the back of the ear at the middle of its curve (position B1), stick it down over the skin and the splint so that the rim of the ear is rolled over the splint. Affix three more pieces of narrow tape in the same way in positions B2, B3 and B4.
When the splint is held in place with the narrow tapes, it is often possible to gently manipulate the ear and the splint together, to refine the shape. Once the splint is in position, and the ear taped back against the side of the head (Step 6), the splint will reshape the antihelix and maintain the curve of the helical rim.
A
See Figure A - Apply the splint to the scaphal hollow (A1), inside the rim (helix) (A2) of the ear, starting just above the triangular fossa (A3), and working backwards. Hold the splint in position.
B
See Figure B - Remove one narrow tape strip from its backing. Starting from the back of the ear at the middle of its curve (position B1), stick it down over the skin and the splint so that the rim of the ear is rolled over the splint. Affix several more pieces of narrow tape in the same way in positions B2, B3 and B4 as above.
When the splint is held in place with the narrow tapes, it is often possible to gently manipulate the ear and the splint together, to refine the shape. Once the splint is in position, and the ear taped back against the side of the head (Step 6), the splint will reshape the antihelix and maintain the curve of the helical rim.
In a cup ear, the rim tissue is constricted (too tight) and will not allow the ear to sit back against the side of the head. You are aiming to gently stretch the cartilage over the course of the splintage period. Extra persistence is usually required and it is particularly useful to have a helper and to start splintage as early as possible.
We would recommend adjusting the position of the splint and re-taping more frequently to treat Cup Ear in comparison to other conditions. Weekly adjustments to the position of the splint will increase the rate of improvement (although you will consume more tape supplies, so order in advance if you are running low). The ear’s shape should improve throughout the splintage period. While the first application may be tricky, subsequent applications of the splint should be easier as the shape of the ear slowly improves.
A
See Figure A - Apply the splint to the scaphal hollow (A1), inside the rim (helix) (A2) of the ear, starting just above the triangular fossa (A3), and working backwards. Hold the splint in position.
B
See Figure B - Remove one narrow tape strip from its backing. Starting from the back of the ear at the middle of its curve (position B1), stick it down over the skin and the splint so that the rim of the ear is rolled over the splint. Affix several more pieces of narrow tape in the same way in positions B2, B3 and B4 as above.
When the splint is held in place with the narrow tapes, it is often possible to gently manipulate the ear and the splint together, to refine the shape. Once the splint is in position, and the ear taped back against the side of the head (Step 6), the splint will reshape the antihelix and maintain the curve of the helical rim.
Before EarBuddies fitting
Fix the splint in place with adhesive tape
After EarBuddies
Images are drawn and supplied by David Gault FRCS at EAR (Ear Aesthetics & Reconstruction). Images adapted by EarBuddies.
(There is no Step 6 when fitting EarBuddies to treat Cryptotia - proceed to Step 7.)
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
A
See Figure A - Hold the lower end of the splint. The splint should be used to lift up the lopped-over part of the ear and hold the ear in a ’normal’ shape, in preparation for applying the narrow tapes. The splint will sit in the scaphal hollow (A1), inside the rim (helix) (A2) of the ear, beginning just above the triangular fossa (A3). Hold the splint in position.
B
See Figure B - Remove one narrow tape strip from its backing. Apply the first tape to the bottom of the splint (position B4) to hold the splint in the correct position. Starting from the back of the ear, stick the tape over the skin and the splint. Apply the second tape in position B3 to further secure the splint. Affix the third piece of narrow tape in the same way in position B2. Finally, affix one more piece of tape in position(s) B1 - stick the narrow tape down over the skin and the splint so that the rim of the ear is rolled over the splint (you can apply more than one narrow tape to this part of the ear if you wish).
The diagrams below explains this process step by step:
Images are drawn and supplied by David Gault FRCS at EAR (Ear Aesthetics & Reconstruction). Images adapted by EarBuddies.
Lop Ear before splintage.
Use the splint to lift up the lopped-over part of the ear.
Hold splint in place.
Apply the first tape in position B4 to hold the splint in place.
Apply the second tape in position B3 to further secure the splint.
Apply the third tape in position B2 to hold the top of the splint in place.
Apply the fourth tape in position B1 - you can apply additional narrow tapes if you wish.
Lop Ear after splintage.
When the splint is held in place with the narrow tapes, it is often possible to gently manipulate the ear and the splint together, to refine the shape. Once the splint is in position, and the ear taped back against the side of the head (Step 6), the splint will reshape the antihelix and maintain the curve of the helical rim.
A
See Figure A - Apply the splint to the scaphal hollow (A1), inside the rim (helix) (A2) of the ear, starting just above the triangular fossa (A3), and working backwards. Use the splint to push the Rim Kink up and out. Hold the splint in position before fixing in place.
B
See Figure B - Remove one narrow tape strip from its backing. Starting from the back of the ear at the middle of its curve (position B1), stick it down over the skin and the splint so that the rim of the ear is rolled over the splint. Affix three more pieces of narrow tape in the same way in positions B2, B3 and B4.
When the splint is held in place with the narrow tapes, it is often possible to gently manipulate the ear and the splint together, to refine the shape. Once the splint is in position, and the ear taped back against the side of the head (Step 6), the splint will reshape the antihelix and maintain the curve of the helical rim.
A
See Figure A - Apply the splint to the scaphal hollow (A1), inside the rim (helix) (A2) of the ear, starting just above the triangular fossa (A3), and working backwards. Use the splint to push the folded-over rim up and out so that it forms a smooth curve. Hold the splint in position.
B
See Figure B - Remove one narrow tape strip from its backing. Starting from the back of the ear at the middle of its curve (position B1), stick it down over the skin and the splint so that the rim of the ear is rolled over the splint. Affix three more pieces of narrow tape in the same way in positions B2, B3 and B4.
When the splint is held in place with the narrow tapes, it is often possible to gently manipulate the ear and the splint together, to refine the shape. Once the splint is in position, and the ear taped back against the side of the head (Step 6), the splint will reshape the antihelix and maintain the curve of the helical rim.
In some cases, the folded-over rim is fused and there is no separation between the two leaves of cartilage, closing out the scaphal hollow. Do your best to push the splint between the leaves of cartilage to create a recess and open out the scaphal hollow. In such instances, if you are struggling to make sufficient improvements after a week or two, it would be prudent to consult an EarBuddies Professional.
A
See Figure A - Apply the splint to the scaphal hollow (A1), inside the rim (helix) (A2) of the ear. Ensure that the bottom of the splint holds the lobe in the correct position; the splint does not need to cover the whole of the lobe to effect a good correction, only the cartilage framework. This should still leave enough of the splint around the rim and upper part to also correct any prominence of the upper part of the ear. Hold the splint in position.
B
See Figure B - Remove one narrow tape strip from its backing. Starting from the back of the ear at the middle of its curve (position B1), stick it down over the skin and the splint so that the rim of the ear is rolled over the splint. Apply the second tape in position B3 - starting from the back of the ear, stick the tape over the skin and the splint. Affix another tape in position B4 in the same way. You can apply further narrow tapes along the length of the splint to hold the splint in place if you wish.
When the splint is held in place with the narrow tapes, grasp the central portion of the ear between your finger and thumb, and gently push the splinted earlobe inwards to exaggerate the correction.
When fitting for Conchal Crus you may also need small, clean cotton wool balls.
Conchal Crus presents in various different ways, and often appears in conjunction with other conditions. In fitting to treat Conchal Crus, the main objective is to manipulate the splint to comfortably fit baby's conchal bowl, so that when pressure is applied to the splint by the adhesive tape, the crus or bulge is pushed in.
Manipulate the splint into a heart shape, to fit baby’s conchal bowl, and position the splint in place. Before you apply the wide tapes, you can check that you have correctly manipulated the splint by applying light pressure to the splint with your finger, in the same way that the adhesive tapes will; if this appears to temporarily correct the problem whilst you hold your finger in place, then this is the correction that will be permanently made once the splintage period is complete.
If light pressure with your thumb does not give the desired result, then make further adjustments to the splint.
If necessary, in order to deepen the conchal bowl, two splints can be taped together using narrow tape. Alternatively, a small, clean cotton wool ball can also be added to exert additional pressure on the splint - ensure this cotton wool exerts pressure on the Conchal Bowl ONLY, and not on the other cartilage folds of the ear (see picture).
If other deformities are also present, such as a Rim Kink or Folded-Over Helical Rim, please see their separate fitting instructions and splint these conditions accordingly at the same time as the Conchal Crus. Please note you may need to buy additional splints to treat unusual combination deformities.
When you change the tapes, reassess the shape of the splint. As the shape of the conchal bowl changes, and baby’s ear naturally grows, you may need to slightly expand the heart-shaped splint accordingly.
WARNING - DO NOT to let the splint enter the ear canal. Curl the end of the splint so that it will not fit into the ear canal.
3. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
4. Use one Wide or SuperWide tape to hold the splinted ear firmly to the side of the head as shown in the picture below. Use Wide tape if your baby is under 1 month of age. Use SuperWide tape if your baby is older than this, because the cartilage is stiffer and the ears are larger. The greater surface area of SuperWide tape also helps the tapes to stay in place as older babies have greasier skin, sweat more and are more active.
5. If you are using SuperWide tape, you might find it helpful to put an additional strip of Wide tape at the top of the ear to close off the groove between the ear and the side of the head (as shown in the picture) to discourage any ear tugging, for example, during teething.
6. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
3. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
4. Use one Wide or SuperWide tape to hold the splinted ear firmly to the side of the head as shown in the picture below. Use Wide tape if your baby is under 1 month of age. Use SuperWide tape if your baby is older than this, because the cartilage is stiffer and the ears are larger. The greater surface area of SuperWide tape also helps the tapes to stay in place as older babies have greasier skin, sweat more and are more active. Ensure the Stahl’s Bar is entirely beneath the Wide or SuperWide tape in order to provide sufficient pressure on the splint to ‘push out’ the deformity.
5. If you are using SuperWide tape, you might find it helpful to put an additional strip of Wide tape at the top of the ear to close off the groove between the ear and the side of the head (as shown in the picture) to discourage any ear tugging, for example, during teething.
6. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
1. When treating Cup Ear, SuperWide tape is always preferable, regardless of the age of the baby, as it is better able to stretch the cartilage to a normal position. The greater surface area of SuperWide tape also helps the tapes to stay in place in older babies, who have greasier skin, sweat more and are more active.
2. Open the pack containing the SuperWide adhesive tapes.
3. You may wish to shorten the SuperWide tapes by up to 3 cm. Although shortening the tapes will give less adhesion, it will make them less conspicuous. You may be able to cut the excess SuperWide tape ends into narrow tapes to hold the splint in place next time you change the tapes.
4. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
5. Use one SuperWide tape to hold the upper pole of the splinted ear firmly to the side of the head as shown in the picture below.
6. If your baby is older than 1 month, you might find it helpful to put an additional strip of Wide tape at the top of the ear to close off the groove between the ear and the side of the head to discourage any ear tugging, for example, during teething.
7. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
3. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
4. Use one Wide or SuperWide tape to hold the splinted ear firmly to the side of the head as shown in the picture below. Use Wide tape if your baby is under 1 month of age. Use SuperWide tape if your baby is older than this, because the cartilage is stiffer and the ears are larger. The greater surface area of SuperWide tape also helps the tapes to stay in place as older babies have greasier skin, sweat more and are more active.
5. If you are using SuperWide tape, you might find it helpful to put an additional strip of Wide tape at the top of the ear to close off the groove between the ear and the side of the head (as shown in the picture) to discourage any ear tugging, for example, during teething.
6. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
3. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
4. Use one Wide or SuperWide tape to hold the splinted ear firmly to the side of the head as shown in the picture below. Use Wide tape if your baby is under 1 month of age. Use SuperWide tape if your baby is older than this, because the cartilage is stiffer and the ears are larger. The greater surface area of SuperWide tape also helps the tapes to stay in place as older babies have greasier skin, sweat more and are more active.
5. If you are using SuperWide tape, you might find it helpful to put an additional strip of Wide tape at the top of the ear to close off the groove between the ear and the side of the head (as shown in the picture) to discourage any ear tugging, for example, during teething.
6. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
3. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
4. Use one Wide or SuperWide tape to hold the splinted ear firmly to the side of the head as shown in the picture below. Use Wide tape if your baby is under 1 month of age. Use SuperWide tape if your baby is older than this, because the cartilage is stiffer and the ears are larger. The greater surface area of SuperWide tape also helps the tapes to stay in place as older babies have greasier skin, sweat more and are more active.
5. If you are using SuperWide tape, you might find it helpful to put an additional strip of Wide tape at the top of the ear to close off the groove between the ear and the side of the head (as shown in the picture) to discourage any ear tugging, for example, during teething.
6. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
3. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
4. Use one Wide or SuperWide tape to hold the Upper Pole of the ear firmly to the side of the head as shown in the picture. Use another strip of Wide or SuperWide tape to hold the splinted lobe in position against the side of the head. Use Wide tape if your baby is under 1 month of age. Use SuperWide tape if your baby is older than this, because the cartilage is stiffer and the ears are larger. The greater surface area of SuperWide tape also helps the tapes to stay in place as older babies have greasier skin, sweat more and are more active.
5. If your baby is older than 1 month, you might find it helpful to put an additional strip of Wide tape at the top of the ear to close off the groove between the ear and the side of the head (as shown in the picture) to discourage any ear tugging, for example, during teething.
6. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
3. Rounding the tape ends with scissors before you remove them from their backing and apply them can help to prevent the edges from lifting and improve their appearance.
4. Use SuperWide tape to hold the splint firmly in place in the conchal bowl. Ideally the tape should be as low down as possible to reduce the risk of damaging the cartilage folds of the helix and anti-helix, whilst at the same time applying pressure on the splint in the conchal bowl.
5. Do not apply the adhesive tapes under tension or stretched; excessive tension may cause the delicate skin to shear or blister.
That's it! The fiddly bit is done. If the splint is correctly fitted, the ear should now have a greatly improved shape and position beneath the tapes. Once the cartilage hardens in this new position, you should achieve permanent correction.
TOP TIP
If the ends of the tapes lift, but the rest is firmly stuck, simply trim the ends and apply some fresh tape on top if necessary.
EarBuddies headwear is designed to keep the splints from prying eyes, to avoid the questions that splinting can attract. It can also support the correction and keep baby's inquisitive fingers away from the ears, but if you don't want your baby to wear a hat, then that's fine. Note, you should always check that any headwear is not making baby too warm.
We strongly advise against letting your baby wear headwear at night, as this can lead to overheating, and even cot death.
Your EarBuddies kit contains medical-grade silicones, inert metals, and hypoallergenic adhesive tape which should not harm your baby’s delicate skin. The device should not be used if the skin of your baby’s ear is broken. Should redness or other signs of irritation persist, consult a physician. The device is strictly for external use only, and no attempt should be made to insert the device into the ear canal, nor internally elsewhere.
EarBuddies will improve the majority of simple problems of shape, contour and position of the external ear. However, they cannot replace missing tissue or guarantee success in all cases. Specialist fitting is usually required for children who will need hearing aids or have microtia.
Don’t forget take photos before and during splintage to record your progress. When splintage is complete, we would love to hear your success story. You could win £50 in Amazon Vouchers! All you need to do is write a brief outline of your EarBuddies success story, then send it with before and after photos to earofthemonth@earbuddies.com.
