Monica Walker
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“I hear just fine out of my good ear!”
Have you ever heard anyone say that before? Though most people with hearing loss in one ear have it in both ears, there are cases in which individuals experience hearing loss in only one ear, known as unilateral hearing loss (UHL).
According to a 2020 study conducted at the University of Miami, “asymmetry in hearing has been reported to result in a reduced quality of life comparable to, or exceeding, binaural hearing loss.” In addition, profound unilateral hearing loss can “have a substantial impact on socialization, learning and work productivity.”
Unfortunately, many experiencing UHL are either unaware of their condition or choose not to treat it. Though it presents differently than binaural hearing loss, unilateral hearing loss is still a major hearing health concern.
To help raise your awareness of the dangers of ignoring UHL, let us take a closer look at what it is and how it can impact your daily life.
What Is Unilateral Hearing Loss?
Unilateral hearing loss is characterized by experiencing normal hearing in one ear with hearing loss in the other. It can range from mild to very severe in both adults and children.
When hearing is completely ineffective in one ear, it is known as single-sided deafness (SSD), which is a form of unilateral hearing loss.
Exploring the Symptoms of UHL
If you are experiencing unilateral hearing loss, you will have reduced awareness of sound on the affected side and might also experience tinnitus in the affected ear. Because our brains rely on both ears to localize a sound, like how you need both eyes for depth perception, those experiencing UHL struggle to follow conversations in a noisy environment.Unilateral hearing loss in children often becomes a concern when parents or teachers observe the child straining to hear, especially in group environments; poor behavior; and/or poor academic performance. The age of onset depends on the cause of the unilateral hearing loss.
Acquired UHL has often been associated with embarrassment, frustration, anxiety, insecurity, and social isolation, which can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Examining the Possible Causes of UHL
In general, unilateral hearing loss can occur due to any of several causes, like:
Inherited or genetic conditions
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
An outer, middle, or inner ear abnormality
Various illnesses or infections
Exposure to loud noise
Acoustic neuroma
Meniere's disease and mastoiditis
How Is Unilateral Hearing Loss Diagnosed?
Whether you are experiencing UHL that has come on suddenly or it is something that has developed gradually over a period of years, unilateral hearing loss is diagnosed using a comprehensive hearing assessment.
Through a series of tests, which evaluate the hearing in each ear separately and together, your audiologist can zero in on the type and severity of the hearing loss you are experiencing.
Screening for UHL in infants involves using auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing at birth, which produces a pass or fail result, leading to further testing. UHL is typically diagnosed in children thanks to regular hearing tests during early development and school screening tests.
Managing and Treating Your Unilateral Hearing Loss
How your UHL is managed or treated will depend on the degree of loss and the impact it has on your daily life.
Cases involving sudden unilateral hearing loss are sometimes treated by an otolaryngologist or an ENT using various proven medical therapies. For longstanding hearing loss cases, or when medical treatment is not an option, unilateral hearing loss can be treated with different technologies in accordance with the person’s needs and hearing loss.
Potential technologies used in the management and treatment of unilateral hearing loss include:
