Management of Children with Unilateral Hearing Loss.

Children with impaired hearing in one ear (unilateral hearing loss [UHL]) and normal hearing in the other ear experience challenges in understanding speech in noisy backgrounds and localizing the source of sounds in 3-dimensional space. They are at a high risk for speech and language delay and need educational help in school. However, definitive evidence of benefit from amplification is currently lacking to recommend placement of hearing aids or cochlear implants in all young children with UHL. Management of UHL in children should be guided by the child's development, performance in school, and personal/family values and preferences.