“Can hearing loss in one ear be fixed?”
I have hearing loss in my ear. Can hearing loss in one ear be fixed?
3 Answers
Hearing loss may be fixed if it is caused by an issue in the outer or middle ear system that is treatable (such as impacted ear wax or certain middle ear bone damage). However, if the hearing loss is in the inner ear or if the condition is not treatable, the hearing loss will be permanent. When someone has hearing loss in one ear there are options!
For some patients, using devices called "CROS" hearing aids are very helpful. The weak ear wears the CROS device, which looks like a hearing aid but is really just a set of microphones with a transmitter. The better ear wears a hearing aid that may or may not increase the volume for that ear (depending on how well it hears). The CROS transmits the sound to the better ear hearing aid. In this way, the better ear now will have sound from both sides. This allows the person to hear sounds from all around, even if it's all through one ear.
Other patients seek out implanted devices such as bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) or cochlear implants (CIs). To be a candidate for these devices, there are more specific medical criteria required.
For some patients, using devices called "CROS" hearing aids are very helpful. The weak ear wears the CROS device, which looks like a hearing aid but is really just a set of microphones with a transmitter. The better ear wears a hearing aid that may or may not increase the volume for that ear (depending on how well it hears). The CROS transmits the sound to the better ear hearing aid. In this way, the better ear now will have sound from both sides. This allows the person to hear sounds from all around, even if it's all through one ear.
Other patients seek out implanted devices such as bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) or cochlear implants (CIs). To be a candidate for these devices, there are more specific medical criteria required.
"Fixing" a unilateral hearing loss would depend on the type of hearing loss that is present in the impaired ear. There are medical/surgical interventions for many conductive hearing losses. Sensorineural hearing loss can be treated with amplification depending on the degree of hearing loss, a CROS system, in which a sound transmitter is worn on the deaf ear and sound is routed to a receiver worn in the hearing ear, or possibly a cochlear implant. Consult an audiologist for a complete hearing test and to review all your options. If the single sided hearing loss is of sudden onset, please seek medical attention, as this would be considered a medical emergency. Angela R. Sieh Ceretto, M.A., CCC-A, FAAA Audiologist Pinnacle Audiology, LLC 6809 S. Minnesota Ave., Suite 101 605-306-4481
It depends on the type of loss. If the loss is conductive in nature, it could be fixed with medical intervention. This type of loss includes, but is not limited to, middle ear infections (otitis media). If the loss is Sensorineural in nature then treatment options are available, but there is no cure. Treatment options could be a hearing device or an implanted device such as the OSIA. A full hearing evaluation by an audiologist is recommended to determine type of loss and appropriate referrals or treatment options Dr. Brenda F. Cross
