Unilateral Hearing Loss

What is Unilateral Hearing Loss (UHL)?

• Also known as “Single Sided Deafness”, UHL is having no useable hearing in one ear, but the other ear is normal. 
• A typically permanent condition diagnosed each year in appoximately 50,000 patients. 
• A serious, but treatable condition that can affect quality of life.

What causes UHL?

• Family history or hereditary factors. 
• Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuroma, or sudden hearing loss. 
• Viral or bacterial infections, meningitis & mumps. 
• Injury to the head.

Symptoms:

• Not able to hear speech from your “poor side” 
• Not knowing where “sounds” are coming from 
• Difficulty understanding speech in noise, especially when noise is on your “good side” & speech is on your “poorer side”

Diagnosis:

• Talk honestly with your Audiologist about daily hearing problems.
• Allow your Audiologist to professionally evaluate the type and severity of your hearing loss.