Hearing loss in one ear affects about seven percent of adults in the United States. People cannot hear sounds and speech effectively. It also impacts the ability to tell where sounds come from. Thankfully, there are several treatment options available for one-sided hearing loss.
Let’s learn more about one-sided hearing loss, why it happens, and how your ENT specialist in Georgetown, TX, can diagnose and treat it.
What Is One-sided Hearing Loss?
One-sided hearing loss, also called unilateral hearing loss, or UHL, involves normal hearing in one ear but significant hearing loss in the other. While a person hears well with one ear, he or she may struggle to make out speech or other sounds with the affected ear.
Some people have a more severe kind of one-sided hearing loss. This is called single-sided deafness. Single-sided deafness happens when a person has no hearing in one ear.
However severe one-sided loss is, people have problems with sound volume and perceiving where a noise originates (sound localization). Also, people with UHL have trouble understanding conversation and separating sounds. UHL poses real problems in noisy places, such as large gatherings and restaurants.
What Causes One-sided Hearing Loss?
Many things can cause sudden or gradual one-sided hearing loss. These include the following factors.
Congenital Conditions
Some people are born with one ear which is poorly developed and cannot receive sound properly. Genetic factors or complications during pregnancy or childbirth may cause this. In some cases, doctors cannot determine the reasons for one-sided hearing loss.
Certain genetic conditions can result in one-sided hearing loss. In other words, hearing loss can run in families.
In fact, more than 50 percent of people with hearing loss have close relatives with similar problems. Heredity does play a role in how well you hear.
Infection or Other Illnesses
Ear infections or illnesses, such as meningitis, can damage the inner ear. Chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, contribute to nerve-related hearing loss–either on one side or both sides.
Head Trauma
A hard blow to the head or skull fracture damages the ear and leads to one-sided hearing loss. Something called barotrauma can, too.
Sudden changes in air or water pressure–as with scuba diving or airplane flights–cause barotrauma.
Tumors
Tumors, such as an acoustic neuroma, a benign growth on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain, can cause one-sided hearing loss.
Also, some people develop tumors called cholesteatomas in the middle ear. These benign collections of skin cells damage the bones and nerves involved in hearing.
Exposure to Loud Noise
Repeated exposure to loud noises in the workplace or through hobbies, such as hunting or attending concerts, can damage the inner ear. The damage may accumulate over time until the one-sided hearing loss becomes noticeable. Conversely, it may happen suddenly, as with a quick, loud noise, such as an explosion.
Age-related Hearing Loss
As we age, our hearing naturally deteriorates. So, one-sided hearing loss develops gradually with time. Age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis.
How Can My Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor Diagnose and Treat Hearing Loss in One Ear?
Your otolaryngologist will do a physical examination, obtain a medical history and conduct tests to determine the cause of your one-sided hearing loss. These may include a hearing test, imaging studies (MRI with contrast or CT scan) and blood tests.
Treatment options depend on the cause and severity of the condition. In some cases, prescription medication may treat a health condition causing hearing loss.
For example, the ENT physician may prescribe antibiotics for an ear infection. Tumors may require surgery. Where treatment is not effective or possible, devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants may be recommended.
It really is important to be tested for one-sided hearing loss. UHL can impact how you function in daily life. It can make it hard to communicate, participate in social activities and perform family and job responsibilities.
In addition to treatment options, follow-up with your audiologist or ENT specialist regularly. Check-ups track changes and ensure your care plan is effective.
Finally, address underlying health issues which may lead to one-sided hearing loss. For instance, manage your diabetes or high blood pressure through medication and lifestyle changes.
One-Sided Hearing Loss Treatment in Georgetown, TX
If you think you or your child is having trouble hearing and seek treatment from a hearing loss specialist, look no further than our ENT doctor and audiologists at Georgetown ENT. Our experienced otolaryngologist, Dr. Scott William Franklin, and audiologist Abeda Mueed help patients of all ages with one-sided hearing loss. Together, they help people improve their hearing and self-confidence, too.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us today at (512) 869-0604 or use our appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
