How Unilateral Hearing Loss Can Affect Adults

October 13, 2019

Most people think of hearing loss as an issue that comes with age, but there are a lot of people who suffer from hearing loss at all ages and stages of life. Unilateral hearing loss in Waterloo, IA can be found in people from birth through adulthood, and it can have profound impacts on overall quality of life. If you have unilateral hearing loss, or you know someone who does, it’s important to understand some of these impacts so that you know what you can do to improve your hearing ability and quality of life.

Unilateral hearing loss basics

Unilateral hearing loss is an issue in which hearing is diminished in one ear, but not the other. This type of hearing loss can be caused by a number of different factors, including birth defects, genetic predisposition, physical injuries and measles. Regardless of the cause of unilateral hearing loss, it can make it difficult for people to perceive sounds, especially when there is a lot of ambient noise, and it can also prevent people from following conversations and localizing sounds.

Issues associated with unilateral hearing loss

Unilateral hearing loss can vary widely in severity, so it affects everyone differently. However, research has revealed several common issues experienced by people who suffer from unilateral hearing loss:

Fatigue: Because unilateral hearing loss in Waterloo, IA makes it challenging for people to perceive and localize sounds, they have to do a lot of work to focus and concentrate on conversations. Many people with unilateral hearing loss experience fatigue because of the energy that they spend trying to hear other people throughout the day.
Anxiety: Anxiety is a very common issue experienced by people with unilateral hearing loss. Lots of people are concerned that they might end up in a situation where their hearing loss prevents them from responding quickly and effectively to an emergency situation. This anxiety can be persistent in all kinds of situations, and it’s challenging for many people who suffer from unilateral hearing loss to shake feelings of fear, especially in tense or stressful situations.
Low self-esteem: People who have unilateral hearing loss often have to ask people to repeat themselves or speak up so they can hear them. Even if friends or family members of people with this kind of hearing loss don’t mind this, sufferers of unilateral hearing loss might start to feel like they are a burden on the people around them. This can contribute to shame, guilt or low self-esteem, and it can cause many people to withdraw from or avoid social situations.

Get help with unilateral hearing loss in Waterloo, IA

You can find out more about unilateral hearing loss in Waterloo, IA and get personalized hearing aid consultations by reaching out to Potter’s Hearing Aid Service. As an independently owned and operated business, we are dedicated to providing our customers with high-quality hearing services and hearing aid products that are designed to provide the best hearing outcomes possible. To get started with a free consultation and quote, simply give our team a call today.