What is unilateral hearing loss?
A unilateral hearing loss occurs when hearing in one ear is within normal limits, while hearing in the other ear has some degree of reduction in hearing. Unilateral hearing loss can range from mild to profound in severity. You can have unilateral hearing loss from birth, or hearing loss can develop later in life, suddenly or gradually.
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What is single-sided deafness?
Single-sided deafness (SSD) is a type of unilateral hearing loss where the reduction in hearing is so severe that your ear is considered to be non-functional or deaf. That is, a person has no or limited access to sound in that ear and may or may not benefit from hearing aid on that ear.
How common is unilateral hearing loss?
An estimated 60,000 Americans have unilateral hearing loss. The condition affects all genders and ages.
Approximately 1 child in 1,000 is born with unilateral hearing loss, and approximately 7% of adults in the U.S. have unilateral hearing loss.
