For most people both ears rarely have the same exact amount of hearing loss. Because one ear commonly has worse hearing loss than the other, it sparks the question: Do I truly need two hearing aids, or can I simply deal with the ear with more substantial loss of hearing?
One hearing aid, in most cases, will not be preferable to two. But there are certain instances, dramatically less common instances, that is, in which one hearing aid may be the way to go.
You Have A Pair of Ears For a Reason
Whether you know it or not, your ears efficiently work as a pair. Which means that there are certain benefits to using two hearing aids.
- Being Able to Localize Correctly: In order to figure out where sounds are coming from, your brain is not only working to interpret but also to place it. In order to properly triangulate where sound is coming from, your brain needs signals from both ears. It is much more difficult to figure out where sounds are coming from when you’re only able to hear well out of one ear (Which may come in handy, for example, if you live next to a busy street).
- Make The Health of Your Ears Better: An unused sense will atrophy just like an unused muscle will. Your hearing can start to go downhill if your ears don’t get regular sound input. Get the organs of your ears the input they require to preserve your hearing by using two hearing aids. Wearing two hearing aids can also help minimize tinnitus (if you have it) and increase your ability to identify sounds.
- Concentrating When People Are Talking: The whole point of using a hearing aid is to help your hearing. Other people talking is something you will definitely need to hear. Using two hearing aids lets your brain to better tune out background noises. Because your mind has more available data your brain is able to determine what is closer and consequently more likely to be something you would want to focus on.
- Modern Hearing Aids Work as a Set: Just as your ears work together naturally, modern hearing aid technology is designed to work as a pair. The two hearing aids communicate with one another using state-of-the-art features and artificial intelligence to, much like your brain, identify which sounds to focus on and amplify.
Are There Situations Where A Single Hearing Aid Is Practical?
Using two hearing aids is the better choice in most cases. But that begs the question: If somebody is wearing a hearing aid in only one ear, why?
Commonly we hear two specific reasons:
- Monetary concerns: Some people feel that they can spend less money if they can wear only one hearing aid. Buying one hearing aid is better then getting none if you can’t really afford a pair. Still, you should understand that eventually untreated hearing loss has been confirmed to raise your overall healthcare costs. Even disregarding hearing loss for two years has been shown to raise your healthcare costs by 26 percent, and ignoring any hearing loss in one ear will elevate your chances of things like falling. So speak with your hearing specialist to make certain only getting one hearing aid is a smart plan for you. Finding ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is an additional service we offer.
- You still have perfect hearing in one ear: If just one of your ears requires a hearing aid, then you could be best served by having a hearing aid in just one ear but it’s definitely something you should have a conversation about your hearing professional about (having one better ear is not the same as having one perfect ear).
Two Aids Are Better Than One
In the vast majority of cases, however, two hearing aids will be healthier for your ears and your hearing than only one. There are simply too many benefits to having strong hearing in both ears to dismiss. So, yes, in the majority of situations, two hearing aids are better than one (just like two ears are better than one). Schedule an appointment with a hearing care pro to get your hearing examined.
