Deafness in One Ear

Unable to hear in one of your ears.

Overview

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What does it mean to be deaf in one ear?

People with reduced hearing in one ear can still manage conversation well in quiet environments. This can give others the impression that single-sided deafness isn’t a big deal. Even amongst ENT surgeons in the past there was a view that as long as the other ear was ok, intervention wasn’t worth it.

However, we know there are specific difficulties associated with reduced hearing in one ear:

  • Conversation in noisy environments (‘Speech in noise’)
  • Knowing which direction a sound is coming from (‘Spatial hearing’)
  • Not hearing sounds from one side of the head (‘The head shadow effect’)
  • Appreciating audio recorded in stereo
  • Increased listening effort & ‘cognitive fatigue’
  • Lack of stimulation meaning the brain stops learning to process sound on that side (‘Plasticity’)

How is deafness in one ear diagnosed?

The solutions for hearing improvement are dependent on:

  • the middle ear (determined by examination, hearing test and CT scan)
  • the inner ear (determined by MRI scan)
  • the level of deafness (determined by hearing test)

How is deafness in one ear treated?

Options to rehabilitate partial deafness include:

However, once deafness reaches profound levels in one ear, even the loudest amplification won’t help. Focus then moves to sending sound over from the deaf side to the good ear. Options for this are:

  • CROS hearing aid (‘Contralateral Routing Of Signal’)
  • Bone conduction hearing aid
  • Bone conduction implant

Sending sound to the good ear will overcome the ‘head shadow effect’ but won’t help with ‘spatial hearing’ (Good for crossing the road, not so for finding your ringing phone)

There is however another emerging option: Cochlear Implantation for single-sided deafness. Research over the last decade has shown that ‘spatial hearing’ and improved ‘speech in noise’ can be achieved. Consequently, cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness gained FDA approval in 2019. Multi-specialist assessment involving audiology & speech therapy is essential before implant surgery.


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Condition overview
Deafness in One Ear

Causes

viral/bacterial infections, genetics, head traum...

Treatment

Surgery, implants

Deafness in One Ear Specialists

Our consultants, who are all either heads of service at London teaching hospitals, or have played major roles in clinical innovation, employ their collective expertise, knowledge and deep experience to deliver the best care possible. Each team is made up of some of the country’s most well-regarded experts in their sub-specialist fields.

Earliest availability 25 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Robert Nash

Consultant Otologist & Auditory Implant Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Otology, Hearing, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Ear wax build-up, Hearing Loss, Deafness, Ear Infections, Otitis Media, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Myringotomy, Cholesteatoma, Tonsillectomy, Meniere’s Disease, Labyrinthitis, Microsuction, Grommet Insertion, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Tympanomastoidectomy, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Earliest availability 25 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Jeremy Lavy

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Cochlear Implants, Hearing, Otology, Hearing Loss, Paediatric ENT, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Stapedectomy, Ossiculoplasty, Myringotomy.

Earliest availability 26 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Joseph Manjaly

Consultant ENT Surgeon, Otologist & Hearing Implant Specialist

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Microsuction, Otology, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Hearing Loss, Blocked Ears, Ear Infections, Deafness, Ear wax build-up, Glue Ear, Otitis Media, Otorrhoea, Otalgia, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Eardrum Retraction, Otosclerosis, Tympanic Membrane Retraction, Cholesteatoma, Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Neuronitis, Labyrinthitis, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Myringotomy, Grommet Insertion, Bone Conduction Implants, Middle Ear Implants, Tympanomastoidectomy, Blind Sac Closure, Canalplasty, Meatoplasty, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Earliest availability 28 Nov
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Nish Mehta

Paediatric and Adult ENT Consultant

Specialist expertise: Balance, Tinnitus, Ears, Otology, Ear, Nose and Throat.

Professor Shakeel Saeed

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull Base Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Hearing, Ear, Nose and Throat, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Cholesteatoma, Otosclerosis, Meniere’s Disease, Vertigo, Voice Disorders, Facial Palsy, Glomus Tumour, Facial Nerve Tumours, Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence, Neurotology, Otology.

Mr Rupert Obholzer

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull base surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Hearing, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Facial Palsy, Otology, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Acoustic Neuroma Surgery, Skull Base Disease, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Repair, Facial Nerve Surgery, Parotid Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery.

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