Single-Side Hearing Loss – Affecting A Surprising Amount Of People

Single-side hearing loss may be the result, symptom or side effect of one of a number of different conditions. Sudden deafness is the most common condition resulting in single-side hearing loss, but many cases of hearing loss on one side are not referred to an ENT specialist and followed up by adequate investigation and testing. Acoustic neuroma is another, much less frequent, condition that leads to Single Side Deafness (SSD).

Many people with single side hearing loss cope with social embarrassment at restaurants and meetings, danger from traffic, and other hazards requiring the ability to hear. Loss of hearing can affect ability to work. In extreme cases, people with loss of hearing may have to switch to lighter or part-time work. Diagnosis of SSD is by standard hearing tests, but for establishing its causes, diagnostic tests like CT scan and MRI scan are used. Irrespective of the length of time over which a patient has suffered hearing loss, single-side deafness can be treated. For assessing the severity of the hearing loss, consultants and surgeons often rely on how the patients describe the effect of the loss of hearing on their lifestyle. Not all patients are recommended for treatment.

A Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), a device available for traditional conductive hearing loss indications on one or both sides, received FDA clearance for treatment of single side deafness in 2002. Over 400 patients with single-side hearing problems in the USA and in Europe have been treated with BAHA.

The BAHA consists of an external sound processor, an abutment and a small titanium implant. The implant is fixed by minor surgery under local anesthetic. The sound processor (clipped on to the abutment and hidden under hair) transfers sound to the titanium implant, which in turn transfers the vibrations through the skull bone to the hearing ear, giving balanced hearing.

About The Author:

William Pensworth is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.digital-hearing-aids-n-protection.com. Find out more about hearing loss, so you can choose the digital hearing aids or therapy that is necessary.