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Hearing Loss
August 18, 2023
6 Min

What is Asymmetrical Hearing Loss And How to Deal With It

Find out what is asymmetrical hearing loss, its symptoms, its causes, and much more in our insightful article. Click here to read more!

Author:
Colton Jannusch
What is Asymmetrical Hearing Loss And How to Deal With It
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What is Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

Asymmetrical hearing loss refers to a condition in which an individual has different levels of hearing ability between their two ears. One ear may have normal or near-normal hearing, while the other ear experiences varying degrees of hearing impairment or loss. People with asymmetrical hearing loss find themselves relying on their “good ear,” and often will turn their head so that the ear with better hearing is facing the person they’re talking to.

This is not the same as bilateral hearing loss (a hearing loss in both ears) or unilateral hearing loss (a hearing loss in only one ear). 

What Does Asymmetrical Hearing Loss Look Like?

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Graph

During a hearing test, your hearing specialist, usually an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist, will carefully measure your ability to hear volume and frequency (pitch) in each ear. The results are then mapped on an audiogram. This is a visual representation of your hearing loss. There are two lines on an audiogram, one for each ear. In most cases, these lines more or less overlap and don’t deviate much from each other. When someone has symmetrical hearing loss, it means that the severity and shape of hearing loss are the same in each ear. If you have asymmetrical hearing loss, however, one line will have a difference of at least 10 decibels across three or more frequencies.

Quality of Life With Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

Asymmetrical hearing loss can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Communication may become more difficult. Participating in social gatherings, engaging in activities, and enjoying various forms of entertainment can become more complicated. How so, you may ask:

  • It can make it difficult to localize sounds, which can be especially problematic in noisy environments or group settings. 
  • It can also make it harder to understand speech, especially in situations where there is background noise.

All of this can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and even anxiety. Those are some of the emotional hurdles a person with asymmetrical hearing loss will face and overcome.

Signs of Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

Young woman favoring one ear over the other
Young woman favoring one ear over the other

There are various indicators to watch out for that can manifest as asymmetrical hearing loss. For instance, this individual may be unable to use a phone with his/her left ear or hear people talking to him/her if they were standing to the left. This is just one example of over-reliance on the stronger ear that has the least loss of hearing.

Some of the signs of asymmetrical hearing loss include:

  • Favoring one ear over the other
  • Turning your “good ear” toward your conversation partner
  • Having trouble localizing sounds
  • Having difficulty hearing speakers in noisy environments
  • Turning up the TV volume louder than others prefer
  • Asking people to repeat themselves frequently
  • Experiencing tinnitus (ringing in one ear or both)
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Causes of Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

There are many possible causes, ranging from common (noise) to rare (medical tumors). That's why a thorough diagnostic workup by an audiologist, in conjunction with an ENT doctor, is so important. Let's take a look at possible reasons:

  • Meniere's disease is an autoimmune disorder that disrupts the pressure in the inner ear, usually in one ear only. This leads to vertigo, ear stuffiness, tinnitus and fluctuating hearing loss that usually gets progressively worse over time. It is one of the more common ways people can develop different levels of hearing between the ears.
  • Unilateral/asymmetric hearing loss and/or tinnitus and loss of balance/dizziness are early signs of a vestibular schwannoma. 
  • Another condition, known as congenital stenosis, narrows the ear canal and can cause hearing loss to be worse in one ear vs. the other.
  • Shooter’s ear: Frequently shooting firearms for your job or hobby can lead to asymmetrical hearing loss.

Treatment for Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

When diagnosed with asymmetrical hearing loss, your audiologist may send you to a ENT (ear-nose-throat) doctor for further evaluation before discussing treatment options. These options depend on the underlying cause and the individual's specific circumstances, and they may include hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other assistive devices to improve overall hearing and auditory balance.

With modern programmable hearing aids, an audiologist may be able to customize the settings on each side to compensate for the worse ear. The goal is to find a solution that balances the signals coming to each ear so you can perceive sound as "normally" as possible. The difficulty will increase with the difference in hearing ability between ears.

Concluding Insights

What we need to remember is that understanding the nuances of asymmetrical hearing loss not only improves individuals’ lives but also enhances their overall auditory experiences. Again, if you see or experience any of the signs above, please consult with your local audiologist. 

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Colton Jannusch

A passionate and dedicated English teacher who creates an inclusive and engaging learning environment, inspiring students to develop their language skills and cultivate a lifelong love for literature.

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Nagish Acquires Sign.mt to Drive Research in AI and Sign Language. 
‍Read the announcement

What is Asymmetrical Hearing Loss And How to Deal With It

Key Findings

  • Workplace Impact: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals report that communication barriers hinder career mobility.
  • Healthcare Challenges: 62% of Deaf and 66% of Hard-of-Hearing individuals experience communication barriers in healthcare settings, contributing to delays in treatment.
  • Concerns About Emergency Communications: 20% of Deaf and 24.3% Hard-of-Hearing users also expressed serious concerns that communication barriers would prohibit them from contacting healthcare personnel in an emergency situation.
  • Independence Boost: Assistive technology nearly doubled rates of independence, with 60% of Deaf users and 63% of Hard-of-Hearing users reporting increased autonomy.
  • Emotional Strain: 55% of Deaf users and 83% of Hard-of-Hearing users reported emotional distress due to communication frustrations.
  • Social and Professional Opportunities: 46% of Deaf and 32.9% of Hard-of-Hearing users saw improved social and career prospects thanks to assistive technologies.

Empowering the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Through Technology: A New Era of Communication and Independence

At Nagish, we’ve seen firsthand just how much communication shapes daily life for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Our recent survey highlights the significant barriers they face in the workplace, healthcare settings, and in their social lives. But it also sheds light on a powerful solution: assistive technology. The results of this survey reinforce our commitment to empowering these communities and remind us why our mission matters: with access to the right tools, independence grows, opportunities expand, and well-being improves.

We collected data through a comprehensive survey involving over 300 individuals who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and currently use hearing assistive technology. The survey included 179 Deaf and 140 Hard-of-Hearing participants, with data collected in an inclusive and accessible manner to ensure that everyone could participate and share their experiences without barriers.Communication Barriers in the Workplace: Limiting Career Mobility

Communication challenges in the workplace remain one of the most significant hurdles for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals, preventing them from fully realizing their career potential. Assistive technology offers a solution by removing these barriers and expanding access to a broader range of job opportunities and career growth.

Download the PDF Report

A majority of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing participants reported that communication barriers affected their career decisions, making it harder to pursue job opportunities or advance in their careers.

Deaf Participants

Hard-of-Hearing participants

65% of Deaf users rely on assistance from hearing individuals at least once a week to communicate effectively, which can limit their ability to fully engage in dynamic work environments.

Communication Barriers in Healthcare: A Matter of Public Safety
Communication challenges are not just a workplace issue — they extend into healthcare settings, where they can directly impact individuals’ health outcomes. Accessible communication tools are essential for ensuring that Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can receive timely and accurate medical care, especially in emergency situations

Many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users face communication barriers in healthcare settings, which can lead to missed appointments, misunderstandings about medical treatments, and delayed care.

Deaf users:

62%

Hard of Hearing users:

66%

Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users have concerns about reaching healthcare professionals in emergencies, highlighting serious public safety risks.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Empowering Independence Through Assistive Technology
One of the most encouraging findings from our survey is just how much independence is boosted with assistive technology. This improvement in independence is not just about doing things on their own; it’s about having the confidence and ability to engage fully in both professional and personal settings.

Assistive technology has significantly increased the independence of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users in managing daily tasks, showing clear improvements after adoption.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Expanding Social and Professional Opportunities
Beyond independence, assistive technology creates connection.By removing communication barriers that keep people from joining in socially or professionallyassistive technology allows users to engage more deeply in social activities and pursue career opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Assistive technology has helped Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users expand their social networks and professional opportunities, enabling new connections and career growth.

Emotional and Psychological Impact: The Hidden Toll of Communication Barriers
People often overlook the emotional and psychological toll of communication , but they can have a profound impact on the mental well-being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals. Assistive technology can help alleviate this emotional strain, empowering users to communicate more effectively and reducing the anxiety associated with relying on others for basic communication.

A significant number of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing users experience frustration and anxiety when communicating with family and friends, leading to isolation and stress.

Deaf users

Hard-of-Hearing users

Why This Matters: A Call for Widespread Adoption of Assistive Technologies
The findings from our survey are clear: communication barriers continue to limit the lives of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals in many areas, from the workplace to healthcare to their social lives. What’s also clear to us is that the question isn’t whether assistive technology helps—it’s how quickly we can make this powerful solution universally available.. By making these tools more accessible, we can open up new opportunities for individuals to thrive in their careers, maintain better health, and lead more independent lives.
At Nagish, we are committed to advocating for the integration of assistive technologies in all aspects of life. Whether it’s in healthcare, the workplace, or social settings, these technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive society where Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals can live fully empowered lives. 
Our hope is that these findings inspire not just awareness, but action. We hope this survey creates awareness and action in promoting accessibility and inclusion for these communities. Together, we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities, has equal access to opportunities and services.