If you have hearing loss in only one ear, and normal in the other ear, then all hearing aid is all you need. Given that most cases of hearing loss are due to aging, it is quite normal to have hearing loss on both ears.
Well, you may become unhappy when your hearing care professional recommends that you get not one, but two hearing aids. Chances are the first question will be, "Do I really need two hearing aids?"
10 Reasons Why Two Hearing Aids Are Better Than One
Many studies have shown that it is always better to wear two hearing aids when you have hearing loss in both ears. Let us share with you why.
- Naturally Be Louder
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. By amplifying sounds through hearing aids in both ears increases the overall quality of the sounds without having to adjust the gain. - Understand Speech With Better Clarity
There’s more to sound than just its volume; We also want to hear and understand what's being said – especially speech – crisply and clearly. The clarity of sound is noticeably better when you wear two hearing aids instead of one. - Better Awareness and Safety
With binaural hearing, you will better detect where sounds are coming from. This is helpful not only when you need to watch incoming traffic while crossing the road, but also in a social gathering where you need to know which direction someone is speaking to you. - Better Sound Quality and Sense of Balance
When you listen to a stereo system, you use both speakers to get the smoothest, sharpest, most natural sound quality. By wearing two hearing aids, you increase your hearing range from 180 degrees reception with just one instrument, to 360 degrees. This greater range provides a better sense of balance and sound quality. - Both Ears Stay Active
Use it or lose it! If only one ear is used and the other is deprived of sound for prolonged periods of time, the unused ear will find it difficult to recognize sounds the way it once did. Over time, hearing with just one ear may also change how your brain processes sounds. - Have a More Natural Hearing Experience
Your brain is naturally wired to receive sounds from both ears. When equally aided, your ears are better able to reduce unwanted noise, plus two hearing aids allow your brain to more effectively process speech. Hearing with two ears also generally requires less volume, resulting in less distortion and better reproduction of amplified sounds. - Improved Listening, Especially in Noisy Places
If you have two hearing aids, the four microphones from both hearing aids mean they have the double duty capability to filter speech sounds from background noises. If you only wear one hearing aid and are in a noisy place like a restaurant or the mall, your unaided ear will not be able to ignore background noise – a common problem of those with hearing loss. That is why hearing with both ears helps you better understand individual voices with greater clarity. - Increased User Satisfaction
Not everyone loses hearing in their ears evenly. Most people have what's known as asymmetrical hearing loss, where hearing loss is worse in one ear than the other. With only one hearing aid, you may often strain to hear various sounds and become fatigued easily. With two hearing aids, listening becomes more relaxed. - Wider Hearing Range
A voice barely heard at three meters with one ear, can be heard up to ten meters away with two ears. - Prevent Auditory Deprivation
The longer our ears go without receiving auditory input, the more their ability to process sounds is hindered. Wearing two hearing aids means each ear picks up sound and gets the stimulus it needs to stay at peak performance.
Bilateral Hearing Aids Fully Stimulate Your Brain
You probably already know that the best way to keep your body in a good working condition is to use it. That means getting regular exercise, taking the stairs instead of using the elevator, just to name a few.
If you don't move enough, your muscles tend to weaken, or can even atrophy over time. Even though your ears aren't muscles, depriving them of sound can make the auditory nerve pathways and associated brain cells less effective in decoding sounds around you. Just like our eyes, our brains are wired to receive sound from both ears.That is why It is important that you are given the chance to experience binaural hearing aid amplification before making a decision on one or two hearing aids is made.
As a general rule of thumb, if your budget allows you to afford one premium hearing aid vs. two essential hearing aids, it would be better to go with two essential hearing aids. Even though you may not have the bells and whistles of making your hearing experience more convenient, but you will have a better hearing experience. You’ve got two ears, might as well use them both to hear the world around you.
