Research and Clinical Science

**3**

and adults.

**Chapter 1**

*Hajime Sano*

**1. Introduction**

**Abstract**

Hearing Loss

Associated Health Issues of

Patients with Acquired Unilateral

Patients with unilateral hearing loss have impaired hearing of sounds coming from the affected side, decreased comprehension of speech in noisy environments, and lack of sound localization. There are many conditions that can induce unilateral hearing loss, but idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is thought to be most notable because of its high incidence. Patients with ISSHL suddenly acquire unilateral hearing loss; therefore, there are additional significant health problems that complicate the abovementioned symptoms due to the characteristic clinical course of ISSHL including hearing-related discomfort, tinnitus, and anxiety. It has been reported that hearing-related discomfort is closely associated with patients' quality of life. In this chapter, the associated health issues of patients with ISSHL are described, and the interventions employed for patients with unilateral hearing loss

are evaluated for their potential in improving the lives of ISSHL patients.

**Keywords:** idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, bone-anchored hearing aids, contralateral routing of signals, cochlear implant, hearing-related discomfort

Because individuals with unilateral hearing loss have normal hearing in the opposite ear, impairment of auditory communication is less severe than in those with bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, interventions for these patients may not always be indicated. Unilateral hearing loss that is profound is known as singlesided deafness (SSD). Patients with SSD suffer from impaired hearing of sounds coming from the deaf side, lack of sound localization, and deteriorated comprehension of speech in noisy environments. These disorders and related problems can affect academic performance in children. Kuppler et al. reviewed that some children with SSD have significantly decreased self-esteem and increased level of exhaustion and stress because of the effort required to hear, and the tenfold increase of incidence (35%) of poor performer will be estimated [1]. It was also inferred that SSD have adverse effects on quality of life (QOL) and social life of both children

The causes of unilateral hearing loss include congenital and acquired diseases.

Diseases inducing acquired unilateral hearing loss include idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL), Meniere's disease, mumps, vestibular schwannoma, otosclerosis, otitis media with effusion, chronic otitis media, and cholesteatoma, among others. Hearing loss caused by otosclerosis, chronic otitis media, and
