Why Two Hearing Aids Are Better Than One?

If you experience hearing loss in only one ear while maintaining normal hearing in the other, then one hearing aid is usually sufficient. However, in most cases, hearing loss occurs as a result of aging, which commonly affects both ears.

You might feel hesitant when your hearing care professional recommends not just one, but two hearing aids. The first question that often comes to mind is, “Do I really need two hearing aids?”

10 Reasons Why Two Hearing Aids Are Better Than One

Many studies have shown that it is almost always better to use two hearing aids when both ears are affected by hearing loss. Let’s explore why:

1. More Natural Loudness
   Wearing hearing aids in both ears increases the perception of loudness by up to 10 decibels. This is due to a concept known as “binaural summation.” Amplifying sound in both ears enhances the overall sound quality without needing to turn up the volume.
2. Clearer Speech Understanding
   It’s not just about volume—we want to hear and understand clearly. Speech clarity and sharpness are significantly improved when you use two hearing aids instead of one.
3. Better Awareness and Safety
   With binaural hearing, you can more accurately determine the direction from which sounds are coming. This helps not only when crossing the street and being aware of traffic, but also in social settings when trying to identify who is speaking to you.
4. Improved Sound Quality and Sense of Balance
   Just like listening to a stereo system with two speakers gives you richer and more natural sound, using two hearing aids expands your hearing range from 180 degrees with one ear to 360 degrees. This wider range provides a better sense of balance and sound quality.
5. Both Ears Stay Active
   Use it or lose it! If only one ear is stimulated while the other goes unused for a long time, the unused ear can lose its ability to recognize sounds as effectively as before. Over time, relying on one ear can also affect how your brain processes sound.
6. A More Natural Hearing Experience
   Your brain is naturally wired to receive input from both ears. When both ears are equally aided, your hearing system becomes better at filtering out unwanted noise. Two hearing aids allow your brain to process speech more efficiently, requiring less overall volume and reducing distortion for a clearer, more natural sound.
7. Better Hearing in Noisy Environments
   When using two hearing aids, the four microphones between both devices work together to separate speech from background noise. In noisy places like restaurants or shopping centers, having only one hearing aid makes it difficult to ignore background noise. Using both ears helps you understand speech more clearly in these environments.
8. Higher User Satisfaction
   Not everyone loses hearing equally in both ears. Most people experience asymmetrical hearing loss, where one ear is worse than the other. With only one hearing aid, you may need to strain to hear, leading to fatigue. Two hearing aids provide a more relaxed and balanced listening experience.
9. Wider Hearing Range
   Sounds that may be barely audible from three meters away with one ear can often be heard from up to ten meters away when using both ears.
10. Prevents Auditory Deprivation
    The longer an ear goes without stimulation, the more its ability to process sound declines. Using two hearing aids ensures both ears stay active and receive the stimulation needed to remain healthy and functional.

Bilateral Hearing Aids Fully Stimulate Your Brain

You probably already know that the best way to keep your body healthy is to use it regularly—such as exercising or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

If you don’t stay active, your muscles weaken over time, or may even atrophy. Although your ears are not muscles, depriving them of sound can make the auditory pathways and brain cells that interpret sound less effective. Just like your eyes, your brain is naturally designed to receive input from both ears. That’s why it’s important to experience the benefits of binaural hearing before deciding whether to use one or two hearing aids.

In general, if your budget allows you to choose between one premium hearing aid or two basic hearing aids, it’s better to invest in two basic ones. While you may miss out on some advanced comfort features, you’ll enjoy a better overall hearing experience. You have two ears—so why not use both to hear the world around you more completely?