Question: Does the human ear continue to grow as we age?
Short answer: Yes — but not in the way you might think.
While human ears continue to change throughout life, only certain parts of the ear actually grow. The outer ear lobe slowly lengthens over time, while the ear canal and concha — where custom hearing protection fits — remain the same size and shape.
How Ears Change Over Time
Scientific research shows that the ear’s length and width increase by roughly 0.22 millimeters per year. This subtle growth becomes more noticeable after puberty and is primarily due to natural cartilage changes, gravity, and reduced skin elasticity.
As we age, cartilage cells in the pinna and surrounding tissue gradually accumulate. This process, combined with the skin’s loss of firmness, gives the appearance of longer or larger ears — especially in the earlobes. However, this does not affect the internal canal geometry critical to hearing protection or hearing aid performance.
What Stays the Same
Despite visible changes on the outside, studies confirm that the ear canal and concha do not change significantly with age. The concha’s width remains stable after childhood, and the overall canal volume stays consistent. This is why a single 3D ear scan can provide a lifetime-accurate digital model for manufacturing custom hearing protection or communication devices.
Why It Matters for Hearing Protection
For Aware customers, this means you only need one 3D ear scan in your career to achieve a perfect fit. The canal’s stability ensures your custom hearing protection remains accurate over time — even as the outer ear naturally changes shape.