Do people really have bigger ears in old age than they did in their youth?

No, you're not going mad or seeing things - research seems to indicate cartilage growth does not stop. Some have postulated that ear growth is related to hearing loss, but there really hasn't been a good correlation. See the blurb below for a "professional" answer.

From Wed. Dec. 29, 2004

Dear Yahoo!:

Why do your ears and nose get bigger as you age?

Carol

Monroe, Michigan

Dear Carol:

A number of scientific studies have been conducted over the years in an attempt to answer this perplexing question. One such project found that on average, ears grow one-hundredth of an inch every year.

Many people are under that impression that our ears and nose get bigger throughout life because they are made of cartilage, which continues to grow after our bones have stopped. While this is true of the cartilage in fish that lack a bone skeleton, such as sharks, the expert at the MadSci network says it's simply not true for humans and other animals with a bone skeleton.

So what accounts for the largish ears and nose one tends to see on older folk? Some speculate that large ears somehow correlate with longer life, so those with biggish ears are simply the ones who make it to old age. And on a plastic surgery site, we read, "Nasal cartilage becomes thinner and loses its elasticity as we age, causing the tip of the nose to lengthen and droop." So maybe our nose and ears just get droopier?

Fact is, no one really knows. This smells like one of those eternally confounding scientific questions that we'll continue to hear about until someone sniffs out a satisfactory explanation.

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

Do people really have bigger ears in old age than they did in their youth?

I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I am quite serious. My father is 70 and his ears are definitely bigger than they used to be, my gran had huge ears, and every day I see old people that look like they have unusually big ears (although not all old people have this). I do not recall seeing...

People With Big Ears

I think what happens is that there is some skin shrinkage and also loss in calcium which makes the bone structure deplete somewhat and thus older people actually lose height and since the skin starts wrinkling there is a perception that their ears have become bigger.

what I'm trying to say is the ears stay the same, the relative measures have shrunk...

Unfortunately, with old age, things start to sag, bag, wrinkle and swell up. With some, it's more pronounced than others. Ears sag, actually becoming bigger because of this. Again, it's worse on some than others. Don't we all hope that never happens to us. But, I don't really care, as long as I'm healthy. Let the white hair & wrinkles come. <*)))><

I think the ears may look big (at old age) because of thinning of the hair, facial changes, and reduction in stature & general physique.

By the way, I am congratulating you for your intelligent reply on celibacy.

Yes. Your ears do continue to grow. Here's a link. And nah, that's not a stupid question :)

The cartilage in your ears and nose will continue to grow....so those two areas will keep getting bigger.

Yes, they are made up mostly of cartilage which doesn't stop growing. Same for the nose. First answer is correct, award them the 10 points.

The ears are one part of your body that can actually hang and sag very rapidly,it is actually true the older you get your ears are something you can actually grow more