When 4-year-old Ainsley first walked into our Microtia Clinic, she was looking for someone to relate to. She was overjoyed to find many people of all ages like her. Ainsley, who uses multiple pronouns, was born with grade 3 microtia and atresia: conditions in which an ear is underdeveloped and that often result in hearing loss. Here, she not only met other kids with these conditions, she also met Megan, an audiology student with unaided microtia and atresia (meaning she hadn't had cosmetic surgery). “Megan was a really good role model for Ainsley,” her mom, Jodi, says. “To meet someone who was so young, who was thriving, it showed Ainsley that you don’t have to change your appearance.” When Ainsley was 8, they began speaking to graduate students at the University of Colorado. Encouraged by Megan, who had since become a licensed audiologist, and other providers at Children’s Hospital Colorado, she helped audiology students understand what it’s like to live with microtia and atresia. ...