How unilateral hearing loss can affect your quality of life

Therefore, if you have a hearing impairment, it’s vital that you take steps to remedy the situation. In the case of a unilateral hearing loss, this may involve several steps. Here’s what you should know about the causes and symptoms of this type of hearing impairment.

What is unilateral hearing loss?

A unilateral hearing loss, sometimes referred to as a UHL, is a type of hearing impairment that involves only one ear. A person who suffers from unilateral hearing loss can hear normally out of one ear but experiences a decrease in auditory perception in the other. You can be born with this type of hearing loss, or it can develop later in life. This can happen as the result of:

• Ear infections

• Head trauma

• Hereditary diseases or disorders

• Brain or nerve tumours

• Injury to the ear
  

The degree of hearing that’s lost can vary from mild to severe. Some people  may even experience total deafness in one ear.

What are the symptoms of unilateral hearing loss?

In some cases, a unilateral hearing impairment may come on suddenly. In other cases, it develops gradually and then slowly worsens over time. If you’re suffering from a unilateral hearing impairment, you may have difficulty:

·       Distinguishing the direction sounds originate from

·       Making out what someone is saying when there’s a lot of background noise

·       Focusing on specific sounds

·       Distinguishing one sound from another

·       Judging the volume of certain sounds, like music or the television

·       Hearing on the side of your impacted ear

In addition, you may experience mental fatigue or exhaustion after being with people. This is because people with hearing impairments need to work harder to communicate.

Why is treating unilateral hearing loss important?

When it comes to your health, the sooner you seek professional care, the better. If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, visit Soundwave Hearing Care without delay.

Hearing help in Alberta

Our audiology clinics are run by teams caring professionals who work with patients of all ages to improve their hearing. With offices in Calgary, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and High River, we’re Alberta’s premier destination for hearing tests, hearing aids, custom moulds and more. Contact us today to learn more or book an appointment.