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Scientific Oral Presentation

Otology/Neurotology

Assessing Safety and Situational Awareness in Patients with Single-sided Deafness

Saturday, October 17, 2026
10:06 AM - 10:12 AM PT
Location: West Exhibit Hall A, Learning Zone 1

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Anika S. Walia, BA

    Research Fellow/ Medical Student
    Thomas Jefferson University
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • IA

    Ian Argento, BA

    Medical Student
    Thomas Jefferson University - SKMC, United States

  • GA

    Gabrielle Audu, BS

    Medical Student
    Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, United States

  • LG

    Lauren Grapsy, BS

    Medical Student
    Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, United States

  • SL

    Sophia Linguiti, BA

    Medical Student
    Thomas Jefferson University, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Jacob B. Hunter, MD

    Associate Professor
    Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
    Philadelphia, PA, United States

Disclosure(s):
Jacob B. Hunter, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: The functional and safety-related impact of single-sided deafness (SSD) is not reflected in standard assessments and remains underrepresented in treatment decisions. To quantify disease impairment, we compare patient reported outcomes among SSD, normal hearing (NH), and bilateral hearing loss (bHL) patients.

Methods: Patients were screened for SSD at a single institution (2024–2026), defined as pure tone average (PTA) < 30 dB HL in one ear and >70 dB HL contralaterally. NH and bHL patients (bilateral PTA 30–70 dB HL) served as comparators. Validated measures included the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale–12 (SSQ), Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, and adjusted Cochlear Implant Quality of Life (CIQOL) scores.

Results: At time of submission, of 272 patients surveyed, 42 with SSD (mean age 62.1 ± 12.1 years; 3 CI; 6 HA; 11 CROS/BiCROS; 22 unaided), 11 with bHL (mean age 72.9 ± 12.7 years; 6 HA; 5 unaided), and 19 NH participants (mean age 25.7±1.15 years) completed questionnaires.

In unadjusted and adjusted models (age, sex, HL duration, intervention), no significant differences were observed between SSD and bHL across any domain (p ≥ 0.11). Compared to NH, bHL patients trended worse in SSQ Speech, HHIA, and CIQOL Emotional (p >0.05), while SSD showed greater impairment in SSQ Spatial (5.90 vs 4.70, p = 0.23). Both SSD and bHL reported significantly worse outcomes than NH across all domains (p < 0.05).

Within SSD, greater PTA asymmetry was associated with worse SSQ Spatial scores after adjustment for HL duration and intervention (β = −1.59, p = 0.029), though attenuated after age adjustment (β = −1.31, p = 0.076). A significant interaction between PTA asymmetry and age was observed for SSQ Spatial scores (β = −0.12, p = 0.022).

Conclusions: SSD and bHL confer comparable functional disability and quality of life impairment, underscoring the need for equal clinical intervention. Increasing PTA asymmetry in older adults was associated with worse perceived spatial hearing, highlighting age-modified asymmetry as a key determinant of SSD burden.