Hearing Aid Treats Deafness in One Ear

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new hearing aid implanted into the skull bone may help kids with hearing loss in one ear.

Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss is a disorder that affects up to 3 percent of children. In the past, treatment options for the condition -- which causes deafness in one ear -- have been limited.

Researchers reviewed charts of 23 kids with single-sided deafness. Each patient who had the surgery was given hearing tests and questionnaires about listening difficulties before and after the procedure.

According to researchers, hearing test scores improved significantly after the surgery to implant the hearing aids. Some kids did experience complications with skin reactions, but overall, researchers say “these findings are helpful in counseling children 5 years and older and their families regarding treatment options for single-sided deafness."

SOURCE: Archives of Otolaryngology, February 2010

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