Hearing Associates of Libertyville, IL

Man able to enjoy lively party because he's using two hearing aids instead of one.

It’s unusual for people to get the exact same amount of hearing loss in both ears simultaneously. Because one ear normally has worse loss of hearing than the other, it sparks the question: Do I actually need two hearing aids, or can I simply treat the ear with more considerable loss of hearing?

In most cases, two hearing aids are going to be better than only one. But there are some instances, dramatically less common instances, however, that one hearing aid may be the way to go.

It’s Not accidental That Ears Are a Pair

Your ears effectively function as a pair whether you know it or not. That means using two hearing aids has specific advantages over using one.

  • The Ability to Correctly Localize: Your brain is always doing work, not just to interpret sounds but also to place them so that you can figure out where they’re coming from. This is a lot easier when your brain is able to triangulate, and in order to do that, it needs solid inputs from both ears. When you can only hear well from one ear, it’s a lot harder to determine where a sound is coming from (which could be crucial if you happen to live near a busy street, for example).
  • Modern Hearing Aids Work as a Set: More recent hearing aid technology is designed to work as a pair just like your ears are. The artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art features function well because the two hearing aids communicate with one another and, much like your brain, identify which sounds to amplify and focus on.
  • Make The Health of Your Ears Better: An unused sense will atrophy in the same way as an unused muscle will. Your hearing can start to go downhill if your ears don’t receive regular sound input. Get the organs of your ears the input they require to preserve your hearing by using two hearing aids. Wearing two hearing aids can also help minimize tinnitus (if you have it) and improve your ability to discern sounds.
  • Tuning in on Conversations: The whole point of using a hearing aid is to help your hearing. Other people talking is something you will certainly need to hear. Using two hearing aids lets your brain to better filter out background noises. Because your mind has more available data your brain can decide what is closer and consequently more likely to be something you want to focus on.

Does One Hearing Aid Make Sense in Certain Scenarios?

Wearing two hearing aids is usually a better choice. But that begs the question: why would somebody use a hearing aid in just one ear?

Well, commonly there are two reasons:

  • You still have perfect hearing out of one ear: 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 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 individuals feel if they can manage with only one they will save money. If you truly can’t afford to buy two, getting one is better than not getting one at all. Still, you should know that eventually untreated hearing loss has been verified to increase your overall healthcare expenses. Even disregarding hearing loss for two years has been shown to raise your healthcare costs by 26 percent, and ignoring any hearing loss in one ear will elevate your chances of things like falling. So speak with your hearing professional to make certain only getting one hearing aid is a good idea for you. Discovering ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is an additional service we offer.

Two Aids Are Preferable to One

In most situations, however, two hearing aids will be healthier for your ears and your hearing than only one. The benefits of hearing as well as possible out of both of your ears are simply too plentiful to dismiss. In most cases, just as having two ears is better than having only one, having two hearing aids is definitely better than having only one. Make an appointment with a hearing care pro to have your hearing examined.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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