About Conchal
Conchal is a nonprofit corporation to increase education and awareness of congenital ear anomalies, as well as raise money to cover medical costs for those who choose professional treatment.
Traditional treatment for ear anomalies has been to wait for months or years to see how the ears develop, then adjust any issues with surgery. However, significant progress has been made in this area and, if treated early, most ear anomalies can be adjusted nonsurgically with ear molding.
Currently, there are wide gaps in knowledge of ear anomalies and treatment options within hospitals and pediatricians' offices. Ear anomalies are often not screened for at birth, which makes getting timely care difficult. Additionally, treatment is generally not covered by insurance, which means even if identified early, there are many families who cannot afford care.
We understand not everyone views ear anomalies as needing to be adjusted. We strongly believe in acceptance of all differences and the right for families to choose what is best for them based on severity and the potential psychosocial impact to their child.
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The Story of Conchal
How we started
On March 15, 2021, our third daughter, Eliza, was born in Boston. As we got to know her in those early hours, one thing that caught our attention was the shape of her outer ears. The left ear was more severe than the right but both seemed to have abnormalities compared to our other children. We raised these concerns with the pediatric doctors and nurses but were told her ears were a "normal variant" and to wait until the swelling went down to address the issue. We were very apprehensive for her newborn hearing screening and were delighted that she passed. However, the physical abnormalities continued to stand out.
While at the hospital, we researched newborn ear anomalies and very quickly identified a picture that looked exactly like our daughter's ear. We were convinced she had conchal crus and everything we read said the worst thing to do is wait. With multiple reputable medical sites compelling us to action, we called Boston Children's Hospital less than 48 hours after Eliza's birth. Their ear molding team asked for pictures and validated our intuition. Within two weeks of birth, we were able to get Eliza fitted with ear molds.
Our goal with Conchal is to have Eliza's story of quick identification and action become the norm in hospitals and pediatrician offices around the world for those who desire care.
The Logo
C, C, E
When we saw Eliza's ears, we saw two C's making up the outline of her ear, then a capital E inside the ear. The middle bar of the E is the extra fold of cartilage crossing the conchal bowl - the distinctive mark of a conchal crus ear. Ironically, our children are Charlotte, Callie and Eliza, sealing the fate of the C, C, E design.
A special thanks to Jeff Conley, a very talented designer and friend, for bringing the Conchal logo to life.