The presence of a unilateral or asymmetric hearing loss usually raises the suspicion of index for something different occurring in the poorer ear. If the BAER is positive, then magnetic resonance imaging of the ear is ordered with gadolinium enhancement to visualize the VIII nerve. If there is a choice between a quiet versus a noisy environment, try to choose the quiet one. A unilateral hearing loss can have both subtle and serious effects on communication. You probably have learned that you can turn your better ear toward speakers and experience little difficulty.
Sound localization requires that both ears have approximately identical hearing.
Children with a unilateral hearing loss must be taught to cross streets only after looking carefully in all directions. With a unilateral hearing loss, your better ear behaves like a funnel. All sound, speech and background noise, enter the funnel and are mixed together with little ability to distinguish the differences. If there is a choice between a quiet versus a noisy environment, choose the quiet one. Try to eliminate interfering background noise.