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Unilateral hearing loss (hearing loss in one ear)

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Man with unilateral hearing loss cupping ear to improve sound.

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.

Would a FREE* hearing check be relevant for you?

Unilateral hearing loss represented by sound waves on one side and a red cross near the non-hearing ear.

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

Senior woman with braided gray hair cupping her ear, suggesting difficulty hearing.
Unable to hear sounds as easily from the ear with hearing impairment.
People engaging in lively group conversations at a social gathering.
Less able to understand speech and conversations in background noise.
Woman sitting with her head resting on her hand, appearing sad and reflective.
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

Oticon hearing aid models

Oticon Zeal™

Meet the first hearing aid to do it all—unseen. Finally.

  • Discreet design that fits comfortably and securely in your ear.
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  • Get tested and fitted on the spot, then take your hearing aids home the same day.
Book a hearing check Oticon Zeal™
Man holding miniBTE R hearing aid Man holding miniBTE R hearing aid
Oticon Intent™
Engage in life like never before.
  • Clarity - hear more clearly, be more engaged, and enjoy life fully with 4D Sensor technology2
  • Confidence - Get the power to enjoy your day with all-day3 battery life packed into a small, discreet design.
  • New Product - The Oticon Intent miniBTETM R is now available at all Audika clinics across Australia.

24D Sensor technology only available in Oticon Intent 1 & 2.
3Up to 20 hours of use on a fully charged battery. Expected use time for rechargeable battery depends on use pattern, active feature set, hearing loss, sound environment, battery age and use of wireless accessories.

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Oticon Real™

Be curious. Be involved. Be sharp.

With a discreet, elegant design Oticon Real now gives you more choices along with:

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  • Nine colours, so you can choose the style that suits you.
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Oticon Own invisible hearing aid for active lifestyles Oticon Own invisible hearing aid for active lifestyles
Oticon Own

Introducing the latest technology in custom hearing aids

Why choose Oticon Own? 

  • A customised fit
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  • Connect seemlessly 
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Oticon Jet

Great sound. Great choice.

Oticon Jet gives you nine styles to select from, so you can find just the one for you. And with five different colours, you can choose the one that best matches the colour of your hair or skin:

  • Discreet in-the-ear hearing aids
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  • A range of colours to choose from
Book FREE* hearing check Oticon Jet
Powerful Oticon Xceed hearing aid shown alongside a family sitting together on a couch. Powerful Oticon Xceed hearing aid shown alongside a family sitting together on a couch.
Oticon Xceed

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.

Book FREE* hearing check Oticon Xceed
A sleek Oticon hearing aid is highlighted, positioned near two women embracing outdoors in a sunlit park-like setting, surrounded by trees, grass, and festive decorations. A sleek Oticon hearing aid is highlighted, positioned near two women embracing outdoors in a sunlit park-like setting, surrounded by trees, grass, and festive decorations.
Oticon Zircon

It's time to start socialising and celebrating a life filled with sound.

Thanks to groundbreaking technology, Oticon Zircon offers 360° speech and clear sound from all directions, even when in noisy environments, so you can focus on the sounds you love.

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Mona Hemsley wearing a red shirt against a light green background
Mona Hemsley - Chief Audiologist and Head of Clinical Governance and Training

B.Comm(Mgt), GradCertSci., M.Clin.Aud.,MAudSA(CCP)

Mona’s career has seen her work in a wide range of audiological areas, including paediatrics, diagnostics and tinnitus counselling, where she ultimately developed a passion for adult rehabilitation and helping not simply hearing care clients but developing the skills of our network of clinicians. Mona’s consistent relationship-focused ability to train and foster the talents of all client-facing team members saw her move into State Management and national training roles, before advancing to her current role as Chief Audiologist and Head of Clinical Governance and Training for the entire Audika Clinical Network across Australia and New Zealand. 

Mona’s focus is now on ensuring every client that Audika interacts with is achieving a better quality of life, through a clinically consistent, professional and high-standard of care provided by all clinical team members. This client outcomes focus is the key driver in developing and reimagining the future of modern hearing care at Audika.

 

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