It’s uncommon for people to get the same degree of hearing loss in both ears simultaneously. Because one ear normally has worse hearing loss than the other, it raises the question: Do I truly need a pair of hearing aids, or can I simply deal with the ear with more significant loss of hearing?
In most cases, two hearing aids are will be better than just one. But there are some instances, dramatically less common instances, that is, that one hearing aid might be the way to go.
You Have Two Ears For a Reason
Your ears efficiently work as a pair whether you’re aware of it or not. That means using two hearing aids has some benefits 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 in order to do that, it requires solid signals from both ears. When you can only hear well from one ear, it’s a lot harder to figure out where a sound is coming from (which could be indispensable if you happen to live near a busy street, for instance).
- Improved Ear Health: An unused sense will atrophy just like an unused muscle will. Your hearing can begin to go downhill if your ears don’t receive regular sound input. Wearing hearing aids in both ears guarantees that the organs connected with hearing receive the input necessary to maintain your hearing. If you have tinnitus, using two hearing aids can reduce it and also improve your ability to identify sounds.
- Modern Hearing Aids Work as a Set: Just as your ears work together normally, more modern hearing aid technology is made to work as a pair. The two hearing aids communicate with one another using sophisticated features and artificial intelligence to, similar to your brain, determine 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 you in hearing. Other people conversing is something you will definitely need to hear. Because your brain has more sound input when wearing hearing aids, it is better capable of filtering out background noise allowing it to determine what sounds to focus on because they are closer.
Are There Situations Where One Hearing Aid Is Practical?
In most instances, wearing a pair of hearing aids is a better choice. But the question is raised: If someone is using a hearing aid in only one ear, why?
Often we hear two specific reasons:
- You still Hear Perfectly out of one ear: If just one of your ears needs a hearing aid, then you might be best served by using a hearing aid in just one ear but it’s definitely something you should talk to your hearing professional about (having one better ear is not the same thing as having one perfect ear).
- Monetary concerns: Some people feel that they can save money if they can use only one hearing aid. Purchasing one hearing aid is better then not getting any at all if you can’t really afford a pair. It’s significant to recognize, however, it has been proven that your general health costs will increase if you have untreated hearing loss. Even disregarding hearing loss for two years has been shown to increase your healthcare costs by 26 percent, and ignoring any hearing loss in one ear can elevate your risks for things like falling. So speak with your hearing expert to make sure getting only one hearing aid is a smart idea for you. Finding ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is another service we offer.
One Hearing Aid is Not as Effective as Two
Two hearing aids, however, are going to be better than one for your ears and hearing in the vast majority of instances. There are simply too many advantages to having strong hearing in both ears to disregard. In the majority of circumstances, just like having two ears is better than having one, having two hearing aids is definitely preferable to having only one. Make an appointment with a hearing care professional to have your hearing tested.