Single-Sided Deafness Highland, UT
Treatment Options for SSD
Single-sided deafness, or SSD, is a condition where you experience hearing loss in one ear while your other ear is functioning normally. Although it's not as common as bilateral hearing loss, approximately 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with SSD each year. While there is no cure for SSD, there are alternative options for managing it. At Timpanogos Hearing & Tinnitus, our hearing experts can help you find the best solution for your needs. We're here to serve residents throughout the Highland, UT, area.
What Causes SSD?
SSD, also known as unilateral hearing loss, can be caused by many factors, with one of the most common being acoustic neuroma. This is a benign tumor that grows slowly and can put pressure on the auditory nerve, affecting hearing in one ear. Another condition associated with SSD is sudden deafness, which is characterized by a rapid onset of hearing loss with no prior warning, often following a viral infection. This happens due to inflammation in the cochlea that can cause permanent damage to the hair cells responsible for hearing.
Other causes of SSD include:
- Trauma to the head
- Genetic disorders
- Meniere’s disease
- Labyrinthitis
- Microtia
- Mastoiditis
- Common childhood diseases such as measles & mumps
People with SSD struggle with understanding speech in loud surroundings and have difficulty pinpointing the source of sounds. This is because accurate sound localization depends on hearing cues from both ears and having only one ear can be confusing for the brain. SSD can also lead to other issues like anxiety, stress, feeling isolated, dizzy spells, difficulty focusing, and speaking louder than usual.
What Treatments Are Available for SSD?
At our clinic, we understand that single-sided deafness can be challenging, but there are ways we can help. While there is currently no cure for SSD, we can offer various coping techniques to improve your quality of life. Traditional hearing aids may not work for SSD, but we have options like Contralateral Routing of Signal (CROS) hearing aids that can improve your hearing and ability to localize sounds. These devices use a microphone near the impaired ear and an amplifier near the normal ear to pick up and transmit sounds to your good ear. We also offer BICROS, which is similar to CROS but is suitable for those with some hearing loss in one ear and complete deafness in the other.
Another option is a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA), which is a device that uses direct bone conduction to transmit sound from the affected ear to the normal ear. It's surgically implanted and works by stimulating the hair cells of the cochlea through vibrations in the bones of the ear canal and middle ear. Our hearing experts are here to help you explore your options and find the best solution for your unique needs.
Schedule a Consultation
At Timpanogos Hearing & Tinnitus, we understand the challenges of living with single-sided deafness. You don't have to face this alone—our friendly team is here to provide you with personalized solutions to improve your hearing and quality of life. We invite you to take advantage of our Complimentary New Patient Consultation, where we will take the time to understand your unique hearing needs, conduct a thorough evaluation, and discuss all available treatment options. Our goal is to create a comprehensive treatment plan that's tailored to you. You can reach us at (385) 449-3637 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation at our convenient American Fork or Spanish Fork locations. We're proud to serve the communities in and around Highland, UT.