Unilateral hearing loss

[OneEarMustTryHarder]

I’ve known I don’t hear as well in one ear as I do the other for probably 18 months or so. The only reason I noticed it was because I listen to audiobooks and meditations in bed and need the sound higher when I lie on one side. In other situations I don’t notice the difference.

Am 60, and aware of the higher risks of dementia for people with hearing loss so I toddled off to Boots for a test. Expected to just need to wear a hearing aid and was fine with that - have worn glasses all my life.

The test showed I did have mild hearing loss in just one ear but apparently that’s not normal so I’m being referred to ENT. And there’s a grim list of potential causes!

Anyone else have this and not have anything horrible diagnosed?

Me! I have single sided moderate deafness. One ear is fine, one ear hopeless. Came on in my late 40’s. Had an MRI and blood tests. No one has any idea why. No sinister diagnosis.
it’s great for blocking out my husbands snoring!

I do find it isolating sometimes and I cannot locate where a sound is coming from, which is amusing to my colleagues but can be tricky when crossing the road.

Hello! I’m a bit younger than you (early 40s) but I have moderate-severe hearing loss on one side. Like you, I only really noticed when lying in bed listening to podcasts or watching TV. I’ve been referred to an ENT and have an appointment later this week. While there are some potentially scary causes (I presume you are meaning that it’s an acoustic neuroma), I understand that they are very rare and that the most likely reason is some sort of historic virus (even without a sudden loss of hearing) or just that it’s one of those things. I’m not really expecting any answers but understand that they have to rule out the rare but potentially serious causes first.

In my case it was a perforated ear drum that I hadn’t noticed. The ENT consultant sorted it at first appointment. No idea what he did but my hearing is better than ever! (I was sideways on a chair and he was poking around my ear for about half an hour. I was given two kinds of drops to use for ten days afterwards.

Hope your solution is as simple as mine.

Me too, off to see ENT in a couple of weeks. Most likely not significant according to my GP but rare cases of a benign nerve tumour causing it (which mostly would just be monitored). I’m not too worried tbh. Both my parents had hearing loss so I suspect one ear has started earlier than the other!

My DM had this recently and she already wears hearing aids. She had a sudden loss of hearing on one side and she was advised her to see an ENT specialist, which she did. He did hearing tests and an MRI scan and it turned out to be fluid in the ear which he doubts will disperse now so she will just have to put up with it.

I’ve had one sided loss since a small child, probably mumps related. Three years ago I found out I have total loss one side and age related the other so have hearing aids to send sound from non hearing side to the other. It helps but still compromised.

Thanks everyone, you have helped me stop panicking

Just to update, had a very speedy ENT appointment come through.
Nothing wrong with my ear and apparently the Boots hearing test overstated my hearing loss which is very minor.
Consultant said to have a re-test in 5 years!