In the case of hearing aids, two is better than one. Keep reading to learn why.
Binaural Hearing and Why It’s Important
Binaural hearing is the ability to utilize both ears to hear sounds. Using both ears to hear enhances sound localization, improves the ability to hear conversation in noisy environments, and protects the central auditory systems. Just as you use two eyes to see in three dimensions so you do not miss any details surrounding you, you use two ears for this same purpose. Binaural hearing is the way humans were meant to hear, and when hearing loss occurs, the goal is to preserve that type of hearing.
More than 50 million Americans experience some degree of hearing loss, making it the third most chronic physical condition in the United States; twice as prevalent as cancer or diabetes. Bilateral hearing loss, loss in both ears, is more common than unilateral hearing loss. However, even if you have hearing loss in one ear, the hearing in your other ear can be impacted.
Why Two is Better Than One
You would think that if you have hearing loss in one ear, wearing a hearing aid in only that ear would make sense. However, you’d be wrong in most cases. Your ears work together to interpret where sounds are coming from and which sounds to pay attention to. If you can only hear normally out of one ear, your brain has trouble processing which sounds to amplify and which sounds to dismiss.
Wearing two hearing aids provides a more natural binaural hearing experience. The other benefits to wearing two hearing aids include:
- Better sound localization: As mentioned above, being able to pinpoint the location where sound is coming from is important not just in social situations, but also in everyday life. Driving in traffic demands that hearing is flawless in order to anticipate your next move.
- Improved conversation: Hearing out of both ears helps your brain separate conversation from background noise. Being a part of the conversation is essential to feeling engaged and maintaining social connection.
- Balanced sounds: Wearing two hearing aids provides a better listening experience and reduces listening fatigue. When the brain receives signals from both ears, your hearing experience is more natural and comfortable.
- Healthy pathways: Using only one hearing aid can lead to the unaided ear’s nerve and brain pathways to decline. Wearing two hearing aids keeps all pathways stimulated and working properly.
- Less feedback: If you wear two hearing aids, you can keep the volume at a lower setting than if you’re only wearing one hearing aid. Soft tones sound louder when the brain is receiving signals from two ears rather than one. And lower volume means less feedback.
Hearing loss in both ears is much more prevalent than hearing loss in only one ear; sometimes there is uneven hearing loss which can make it seem like one ear is hearing normally and the other ear is the only one experiencing loss. This is why it is imperative to undergo a hearing test with an audiologist to pinpoint where your hearing loss is located.
Set an Appointment with a Professional
If you think you have hearing loss, the first step to finding out is making an appointment with a hearing care professional. Making an appointment with an audiologist, like those at Hearing Solution Centers, ensures an accurate diagnosis. An audiologist can create a treatment plan based on your diagnosis to help manage or improve your hearing health.
Audiologists have specialized knowledge in hearing disorders, unlike a general practitioner who may not have the same level of mastery. Performing comprehensive tests to figure out why you’re experiencing hearing loss and recommending next steps for treatment is the specialty of an audiologist. Prescribing hearing aids and helping you through the process is also what a skilled audiologist will do.
Addressing hearing loss is key to living a full life. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to depression and even dementia. Wearing hearing aids can improve your communication with those around you and allow you to be more engaged in what’s happening. Don’t let hearing loss take you away from living your life to the fullest, schedule a hearing test today!
Reach out to Hearing Solution Centers to schedule your hearing test today!