Unilateral hearing loss, caused by various factors including genetics, earwax buildup, and chronic ear infections, can lead to learning and communication difficulties. Treatment options vary depending on the cause, with hearing aids often prescribed to help sufferers cope.
Hearing loss in one ear, called unilateral hearing loss, is hearing loss in one ear compared to deafness in both ears. There is no single cause of this condition and it has etiological similarities to total deafness. People with hearing loss in one ear typically have difficulty following conversations in areas with a high level of ambient noise and tend to favor one side when listening to others. Treatments vary based on the severity of the condition. While not as serious as total hearing loss, one-sided deafness still causes learning and communication problems.
Unilateral hearing loss can be a birth defect or result from negligent prenatal care. During a pregnancy, some women may be given antibiotics or a special diet to ensure their baby’s health and prevent any illnesses or infections the baby may suffer in the womb. Otherwise, one of the consequences could be hearing loss. Also, if a pregnant mother consumes alcohol, smokes cigarettes, or experiences some kind of trauma near the baby, birth defects such as one-sided deafness can occur.
If other family members are hard of hearing or deaf, the condition may be acquired through genetics. The most common genetic infection related to this condition is otosclerosis. This disease causes the bones in the ear to grow at an excessive rate, resulting in uneven distribution of sound in the ear.
Earwax, also known as cerumen, impedes sound waves and can cause hearing loss in one ear. Fortunately, hearing loss caused by blockages in the ear canal is usually easy to fix. Doctors typically remove the blockage with forceps, although surgery may be required in extreme cases.
Finally, chronic ear infections can impair hearing in one ear. Ear infections cause fluid to build up in the middle ear. The presence of these fluids interferes with the eardrum and causes hearing loss. If left untreated, these losses can be permanent.
Signs of hearing loss in one ear are subtle due to the other ear continuing to function fully. Typically, sounds are muffled or distorted in a damaged ear. Sufferers also have trouble discriminating between sounds in noisy environments.
Correction of the impairment depends on the cause of the unilateral hearing loss. Whether the cause is earwax buildup or an infection, the likelihood of restoring hearing in one ear is high due to the medical and technological advances that have been made. Birth defects or inherited problems are usually not reversible. A doctor may prescribe a hearing aid to help a sufferer cope.
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