Hearing impairment affecting only one ear is called unilateral hearing loss. The ear with the hearing impairment may have mild to complete hearing loss. Complete hearing loss in one ear is sometimes called single-sided deafness. Unilateral hearing loss may be present at birth or develop at any age. The hearing loss may develop suddenly or the person’s hearing may become impaired gradually.

Unilateral hearing loss can be caused by injury, disease, genetic condition, noncancerous tumors, or infection. When someone experiences hearing loss, the individual should consult a doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and early treatment. Better outcomes are often associated with prompt medical treatment. The doctor may perform hearing tests or refer the patient to a specialist to determine the severity of the hearing loss. The physician or specialist may recommend regular hearing tests to check the level of hearing in both ears.

People with unilateral hearing loss may have difficulty pinpointing the sources of sounds. Another symptom of unilateral hearing loss is increased difficulty hearing when there is background noise. They may have an inability to hear sounds close to their ear with the hearing loss even though the other ear has no hearing impairment.

Parents of a child with unilateral hearing loss may have concerns for their child’s safety and for preserving the hearing of the ear with normal hearing. They may have to teach their child to be cautious when crossing a street or riding bike. The parents should seek prompt medical treatment for any ear infections that may make it more difficult for the child to hear with the child’s good ear. The parents may also want to teach the child to guard the child’s hearing in the good ear by avoiding excessively loud noise or using earplugs in the good ear when noise is prevalent.

Many people with unilateral hearing loss benefit from wearing a hearing aid in the effected ear. Some people prefer to rely on the hearing of their ear with normal hearing. People with unilateral hearing loss may become accustomed to turning their heads or positioning themselves so that conversation and sound is close to their good ears.