Single-sided deafness, otherwise known as unilateral hearing loss, is when a person has normal hearing in one ear yet little or no hearing in the other. While most people with single-sided deafness (SSD) go on to live normal lives, relying on one good ear can be challenging.

There are a number of potential causes of unilateral hearing loss. Head trauma or damage to the ear can cause SSD, as can viral infections, circulation problems, disease and tumours, among others.

Symptoms vary, but difficulty judging the direction of sound is common. Our brains are designed to use both ears, so when you can only hear from one it becomes hard to work out where a sound is coming from. Selective hearing can also be difficult in noisy places, making it hard to focus on one voice, and people with SSD may find it harder to multitask and concentrate.

If your child begins to display any of these symptoms, book them in for a hearing test. There could be more to it than simply being distracted in class.

Regular hearing checks matter, and so does limiting how much loud noise you are exposed to. Avoid loud environments where you can and wear hearing protection when you cannot. Hearsafe Australia can suggest hearing protection to suit your surroundings and help reduce your noise exposure.

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