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With just one normal hearing ear it sounds to the individual with SSD as though all sounds originate from the side of the good ear, even if the sound actually originated from the contralateral side (conclusion / Wie et al. 2010)
Understanding speech in noise or more challenging listening environments presents a significant challenge for individuals with SSD (conclusion / Wie et al. 2010.)
"In individuals with permanent unilateral deafness, 93% reported that hearing loss affected communication. Eighty-seven percent reported problems with speech perception in noisy settings. Other consequences were feelings of exclusion, reduced well-being, and extensive use of speech perception strategies." (Wie et al. 2010)
"Participants also highlighted the importance of support from family and friends both in communicating in challenging listening situations and to help in potentially dangerous situations such as crossing a road when they are unable to localise the sound of traffic or identify the distance of vehicles." (Lucas et al. 2018)
More: Anne et al. 2017, Lieu et al. 2010, 2012, Bovo et al. 1988, Carlsson et al. 2011, Bishop et al. 2010, Firszt et al. 2016,
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Wie et al determined, that the feeling of exclusion in communication situations with multiple speakers was a common experience, to the extent that some individuals would avoid social interaction. (conclusion / Wie et al. 2010)
Even in quiet environments, 83% felt it was still important to sit in a strategic position for the sound source. (conclusion / Wie et al. 2010)
"An associated increase in listening effort lead to high levels of fatigue, particularly in situations where participants were unable to move to a more favourable listening position. Participants also described how turning their head to ensure that the sound source is on their nonimpaired side could be tiring and uncomfortable." (Lucas et al. 2018)
"Participants felt that there was a ‘‘social stigma’’ or negative perception about their hearing loss from others who often had a lack of understanding and empathy for their communication difficulties.." (Lucas et al. 2018)
More: Anne et al. 2017, Lieu et al. 2010, 2012, Bovo et al. 1988, Carlsson et al. 2011, Bishop et al. 2010
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Classroom environment, which typically has a background noise level of 50 to 70 dB SPL, presents a challenge for those with SSD because with only one ear receiving auditory information, the auditory centers in the brain are deprived of the complete acoustic picture which would be provided by two ears (conclusion / Wie et al. 2010))
Dornhoffer et al. (2016) showed that Children with single-sided deafness are at higher risk of delayed speech-language development (trouble producing sounds and/or understanding speech), poor academic performance, behavioural problems, and decreased quality of life than their normal-hearing peers.(conclusion / Dornhoffer et al. 2016))
Somewhat similarly, a large case series from Omaha, Nebraska, of 324 children and adolescents with [unilateral hearing loss] found 31% of the children to have scholastic or behavioral problems in school. Evidence suggests that educational disparities continue into adolescence. (conclusion / Purcell et al. 2015)
In children, a fairly rapid hearing rehabilitation period is important since they may, after a fairly short time, lag behind in school or in development since they frequently cannot follow classroom activities or social interactions (conclusion / Tomlin et al. 2014)
More: Anne et al. 2017, Lieu et al. 2010, 2012, Bovo et al. 1988, Carlsson et al. 2011, Bishop et al. 2010, Purcell et al. 2016, Ehrmann-Müller et al. 2020
