Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) means that you experience a loss of hearing in the right ear, or the left ear, but not both. In contrast, bilateral hearing loss is when hearing loss affects both ears.
Unilateral hearing loss, sometimes called single-sided deafness (SSD) or deafness in one ear, affects millions of people all around the world.
There are a number of recognised causes of unilateral hearing loss, including:
There are many effective treatment options for unilateral hearing loss available, although the results of treatment depend on a broad range of factors and circumstances.
Typical treatments include:
Book a free hearing test to learn about your hearing needs and to talk about potential treatment options with a hearing care expert.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds can't pass freely through the eardrum or past the tiny bones, known as ossicles, in the middle ear. This is due to a breakdown in the effectiveness of sound waves being sent from the outer ear.
Conductive 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 both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Last reviewed 2024-07-01
