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Relying on one ‘good ear’


When Lily Tan (not her real name) was 12, her piano teacher noticed something unusual. 

Lily would often miss instructions or seem unaware of her teacher’s presence whenever the teacher sat on the girl’s right side. Concerned, and feeling it was more than just habitual, the teacher asked Lily’s mother about it.

At first, Lily’s mother was sceptical. Her daughter was a bright communicator and had never shown signs of hearing difficulty. After some gentle persuasion, she agreed to send Lily for a hearing test and learnt that her daughter was suffering from single-sided deafness (SSD) — when one ear functions normally while the other has limited or no hearing — due to a viral infection when she was a baby.

Lily’s audiologist, Mohanavalli Baskaran from 20dB Digisound, explains: “She had unconsciously adapted by relying solely on her hearing in the unaffected ear as she continued to sharpen her piano-playing skill.”

After being fitted with Contralateral Routing of Signals (Cros) hearing aids, Lily’s condition saw significant improvement, including clearer hearing during conversations, better sound recognition in noisy environments, and enhanced focus in classroom settings.

Diagnosing and treating SSD

Unlike the more common types of hearing loss that affect both ears, SSD impacts only one ear, leaving the other functioning normally. This asymmetry often allows people with SSD to navigate their daily lives without noticeable signs of hearing difficulty, making the condition easy to overlook. 

“It's very common for people with SSD to say that they can live comfortably with just one ‘good ear’ and use it to tune in to the sound source, but it can significantly impact everyday life,” notes Ms Mohanavalli  . 

Individuals with SSD may struggle to determine where a sound is coming from or find it difficult to hear clearly in noisy environments.

SSD can be present from birth or develop later in life due to factors such as traumatic brain injury, or a viral or bacterial infection. While the condition cannot be reversed, advancements in hearing technology can help those affected lead fuller lives.

Among these innovations are Cros hearing aids, which Lily was fitted with. This device transmits sound from the affected ear to the functioning ear, creating a more balanced hearing experience. 

Those who need more help can also opt for the Roger Remote Microphone System. This wireless device transmits speech directly to hearing aids and enhances hearing in noisy spaces or when the speaker is at a distance. It can be worn around the neck, placed on a surface in table mode, directed towards the speaker during discussions, or connected to a television or laptop.

“While SSD can’t be cured, timely intervention can improve sound awareness,” says Ms Mohanavalli. “At 20dB Digisound, we encourage anyone noticing unusual hearing behaviours in a child or adult to seek professional assessment early.”

 

*This article is officially published on The Straits Times newspaper (11 Dec 2024). 

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