Single ear hearing loss is more common than you might think. If you can’t hear appropriately with one ear, you might find it difficult to make out voices in a crowded room. Single ear hearing loss has many causes and suitable treatments, both of which this article examines.
Causes of Single Ear Hearing Loss
Single ear hearing loss can result from the following:
- Injury to one ear
- Certain types of medication
- Build-up of wax
- Brain tumor surgery
- Exposure to excess noise
- Old-age
- Foreign body in the ear
- Eardrum rupture
- Other diseases including, shingles, Meniere’s disease, otitis externa, otitis media, temporal arteritis, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, and labyrinthitis
- Side-effects of medications like chemotherapy drugs, aspirin toxicity, some diuretics and antibiotics
As you can see, there are many causes of single ear hearing loss.
Single Ear Hearing Loss Diagnosis
After studying your medical history and carrying out a physical examination, your physician is likely to conduct a hearing test. During this examination, an audiologist will examine your reaction to different sounds at varying volume levels.
Taking all the information into account, your doctor will then go on to diagnose your condition and outline a treatment plan.
Single Ear Hearing Loss Treatment
Your physician will base the treatment on the cause of your single ear hearing loss. If excess wax is the cause, she/he can remove it. If you have a build-up of wax or a foreign body in your ear, don’t try to remove it yourself as you may damage your ear. Other treatments include:
- Change of medication if original medication is the cause
- Infection treatment with antibiotics
- Easing inflammation with steroids
- Surgery to repair the ear or remove a tumor
- Hearing aid
Final Thoughts
Seek medical attention, even if your hearing is perfect in one ear. Though sometimes irreversible, one of the many treatment options is likely to work for you.
