Hearing loss in one ear: causes, when to worry and getting it checked

Sudden or gradual? This matters most

If the hearing in one ear has dropped suddenly, over a few hours or a few days, seek urgent medical assessment today. Contact your GP urgently and do not wait for a routine appointment or assume it is ear wax. Prompt assessment matters with sudden hearing loss. Our sudden hearing loss guide explains more.

A difference that has built up slowly, perhaps noticed by family before you, is less urgent but still worth checking. This article is general information, not clinical advice about your own ears. See an audiologist or your GP about your own situation.

Common reasons one ear can hear less well

Ear wax

Wax building up in one ear canal can leave that ear feeling blocked or muffled. Please do not use cotton buds or try to dig it out. Our guides to ear wax impaction and safe ear cleaning explain what to do instead, and we offer ear wax removal in Kensington.

A blocked feeling after a cold or a flight

Pressure changes and congestion can affect the middle ear and make one side feel full or dull for a while. Our guides to ears feeling plugged after flying and crackling or popping in the ear cover this. If it does not settle, or you have pain or discharge, see your GP.

Changes in the inner ear or hearing nerve

Some hearing loss comes from the inner ear or the hearing nerve rather than a blockage. It can be gradual and may come with tinnitus, which is ringing or buzzing in the ear. A difference between the ears that cannot be explained by a blockage is usually something your GP will want to know about, and they may arrange further tests.

Signs worth paying attention to

Always preferring one ear for phone calls.
Finding it hard to tell where a sound is coming from.
Struggling more when someone speaks on one side of you, especially in a busy restaurant.
Ringing, buzzing or a full feeling in one ear only.
Feeling dizzy or off balance alongside the hearing change. Contact your GP promptly about this.

Our article on the signs of hearing loss covers wider changes to look out for.

Noticed a gradual difference between your ears?

A hearing assessment examines and tests each ear separately, so you understand what is going on and what to do next.

Book a hearing assessment

What a hearing assessment checks

At Drummond Hearing, the initial assessment starts with a conversation about what you have noticed and when. We look in both ears, then test each ear on its own with pure tone audiometry, and check how the eardrum moves with tympanometry. Comparing the two ears is exactly what helps make sense of a one sided change.

If the results suggest something that needs medical review, we will tell you and advise you to see your GP. You can read more on our hearing assessment page and in our guide to what happens at a hearing test.

If one ear has a lasting hearing loss

Once medical causes have been considered, the next step depends on the type and degree of loss. For some people a hearing aid in the affected ear makes conversations easier. Where an ear cannot benefit from a conventional hearing aid, other options can be discussed. Results vary from person to person, and hearing aids do not restore normal hearing.

Drummond Hearing fits Starkey, Phonak and GN ReSound hearing aids, and we choose based on your hearing and lifestyle rather than a favourite brand. See our hearing aids in London page, our hearing aid brands compared guide and our prices page.

Frequently asked questions

Is hearing loss in one ear serious?

It can have simple causes, such as ear wax, or causes that need medical attention. Because a difference between the ears is worth explaining, it is sensible to have it checked rather than wait. If it came on suddenly, seek urgent medical help the same day.

Can ear wax cause hearing loss in one ear?

Yes, wax building up in one ear canal can make that ear feel blocked or muffled. It is not the only possible cause, so it is best to have your ear examined rather than assume it is wax or try to remove it yourself.

Should I see my GP or an audiologist?

If your hearing dropped suddenly, or you have pain, discharge, dizziness or other symptoms that worry you, contact your GP urgently. For a gradual difference you have noticed over time, an audiologist can examine your ears and test each ear separately, and will advise you to see your GP if anything needs medical review.

Can a hearing aid help if only one ear is affected?

It depends on the type and degree of hearing loss in that ear. For some people a hearing aid in the affected ear helps; for others different options are discussed. An audiologist can explain what is suitable once your hearing has been tested.

How much is the initial hearing assessment?

The initial hearing assessment at Drummond Hearing is £150 and lasts 60 minutes. It includes a discussion, ear examination, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and a consultation about the results.