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Unilateral hearing loss (hearing loss in one ear)

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What is unilateral hearing loss?

Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is when a person experiences normal hearing in one ear and hearing loss in the other ear. In contrast, bilateral hearing loss is when hearing loss is experienced in both ears.

Unilateral hearing loss is a form of hearing loss that affects millions1 of people all around the world. A minority of these have single sided deafness which exists when the affected ear has profound hearing loss.

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Book a FREE* hearing check for unilateral hearing loss

If you think you have hearing loss in one ear, you can book a FREE* hearing check to help you determine if you have unilateral hearing loss (or any other type of hearing loss). We can suggest treatment options and help you better understand your condition.

Use the form below or quote the 'Audika' website when booking your appointment. All fields required.

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Symptoms of hearing loss in one ear

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Unable to hear sounds as easily from the ear with hearing impairment.
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Less able to understand speech and conversations in background noise.
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Problems localising which direction sounds are coming from.
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Causes of hearing loss in one ear

There are a number of recognised causes of unilateral hearing loss, including:

  • Mastoiditis
  • Mumps
  • Waardenburg syndrome
  • Ménière's disease
  • Meningitis
  • Microtia
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Measles
  • Acoustic neuroma
  • Physical trauma
  • Sudden hearing loss
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Single sided hearing loss treatment

There are many effective treatment options for hearing loss in one ear (unilateral hearing loss) available, although the results of treatment depend on a broad range of factors and circumstances, as well as its cause.

Typical treatments for unilateral hearing loss include:

  • Medical interventions
  • Hearing aids
  • Bone anchored hearing systems
  • Cochlear implants

Book a FREE* hearing check to learn about your hearing needs and discuss potential treatment options with a hearing care expert.

Book FREE* hearing check Hearing loss treatment

Conductive vs. sensorineural unilateral hearing loss

Unilateral conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds cannot pass freely through the eardrum or via the tiny bones, known as ossicles, in the middle ear. This results in a loss of sound intensity reaching the hearing nerves.
Conductive hearing loss


Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, occurs when there is damage to the hair cells in the cochlea (found in the inner ear) or to the nerve pathways which lead from the inner ear to the brain. A person may also suffer from mixed hearing loss, which is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss

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24D Sensor technology only available in Oticon Intent 1 & 2.
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The hearing aid that opens up your world for people with severe to profound hearing loss

The unique technology in Xceed supports you in these situations by giving you more access to speech than ever before. Oticon Xceed is proven to give you better speech clarity with less listening effort in noisy environments, compared to Oticon's previous generations of powerful hearing aids1.

1 Ng 2019, Oticon whitepaper, sponsored by Oticon.

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Maddison Franse - Audiologist and Medical and Clinical Projects Specialist

BSc, MClinAud, MAudA(CCP)

What drew Maddison to the hearing care industry was the potential to help others connect with those around them, enriching their quality of life. Over her career at Audika she has gained experience in adult rehabilitation, paediatric testing and tinnitus management, and been involved the training and development of graduate and student audiologists. Excited to share her passion for hearing health and excellent clinical care she moved into the role of Medical & Clinical Projects Specialist.

Maddison's current role allows her to raise hearing health awareness amongst other health professionals and support Audika’s clinical network in providing the best possible service and care to their clients.

Hearing loss in one ear FAQ’s

Sources & Disclaimers:

1 WHO, World Report on Hearing 2021
2 Depression and Individuals with Hearing Loss - A Systematic Review 

Relevant links

  1. Home
  2. Hearing loss
  3. Types
  4. In one ear