It’s unusual for people to get identical levels of hearing loss in both ears at the same time. Because one ear normally has worse hearing loss than the other, it sparks the question: Do I really need two hearing aids, or can I just manage the ear with more substantial loss of hearing?
One hearing aid, in many situations, will not be better than two. But there are some instances, significantly less common instances, however, in which one hearing aid might be the right choice.
It’s Not an Accident That Ears Come in a Pair
Your ears effectively work as a pair whether you’re aware of it or not. That means using two hearing aids has certain advantages over wearing one.
- Being Able to Localize Correctly: In order to determine where sounds are coming from, your brain is not only working to interpret but also to place it. This is a lot easier when your brain is able to triangulate, and to do that, it requires solid inputs from both ears. It is a lot 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 instance, if you live near a busy street).
- Modern Hearing Aids Work as a Set: Just as your ears work as a pair naturally, more modern hearing aid technology is made to work as a pair. The two hearing aids communicate with each other using state-of-the-art features and artificial intelligence to, much like your brain, recognize which sounds to focus on and amplify.
- Tuning in When People Are Talking: If you use a hearing aid, the whole point is to help your hearing. Other people conversing is something you will definitely want to hear. Using two hearing aids permits your brain to better tune out background noises. Because your mind has more available data your brain can decide what is closer and therefore more likely to be something you would want to focus on.
- Make The Health of Your Ears Better: An unused sense will atrophy in the same way as an unused muscle will. If your ears go long periods without input signals, your hearing can start to go downhill. Get the organs of your ears the input they require to preserve your hearing by wearing two hearing aids. Using two hearing aids will also help minimize tinnitus (if you have it) and improve your ability to identify sounds.
Is One Hearing Practical in Certain Situations?
Using two hearing aids is usually a better choice. But that begs the question: If somebody is wearing a hearing aid in just one ear, why?
Well, usually there are two reasons:
- Financial concerns: Some people think that they can save money if they can wear only one hearing aid. If you really can’t afford to buy two, getting one is better than not getting one at all. It’s significant to understand, however, it has been proven that your general health costs will increase if you have untreated hearing loss. Your healthcare costs have been shown to rise by 26 percent after only two years of neglected hearing loss. So in order to discover if wearing one hearing aid is right for you, consult with a hearing care specialist. Discovering ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is an additional service we offer.
- One Ear Still Has Perfect Hearing: If only one of your ears requires a hearing aid, then you may be best served by having a hearing aid in just one ear but it’s certainly something you should have a conversation about your hearing professional about (having one better ear is not the same thing as having one perfect ear).
One Hearing Aid is Not as Effective as Two
Two hearing aids, however, will be better than one for your ears and hearing in the vast majority of cases. There are simply too many advantages to having strong hearing in both ears to disregard. So, yes, in the majority of circumstances, two hearing aids are better than one (just like two ears are better than one). Make an appointment with a hearing care professional to get your hearing examined.