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Ask the Audiologist

Do I need one or two hearing aids if I have hearing loss in both ears?

By Ali Carmichael, Au.D.
Audiology Consultants, P.C.

You just got back from the audiologist and they told you that you have a hearing loss in both ears, now what? The first step to determining what the best treatment plan is for you and your hearing needs is to schedule a hearing aid evaluation with your audiologist. During this appointment, the audiologist will go over what they recommend for your specific hearing needs. If they recommend two hearing aids, there are many reasons why their recommendation is best practice for your hearing health.

Just like people typically see better when both eyes are working together, you hear best with two ears working together. For example, you wouldn’t go to the optometrist and get a monocle when you have vision loss in both eyes. The same can be true with hearing loss. It’s not ideal to only aid one ear when there is hearing loss in both ears.

When you wear two hearing aids, you help to increase speech clarity and understanding. With both ears working together, the hearing aids are doing the heavy lifting, and your brain is able to better process the sound. Using two hearing aids will help you listen to someone at a softer volume, while not losing the ability to understand them.

Your brain also uses both ears to identify where sounds are coming from. Localization (knowing which direction the sound is coming from) happens because of the difference in time it takes for a sound to get from the source to one ear and then the other ear. Your brain is so smart that it identifies these differences very quickly. When you have a hearing loss this ability decreases significantly, however by correcting aiding your hearing loss, that ability is strengthened again.

The most important reason an audiologist will recommend two vs one hearing aids when you have hearing loss in both ears is to help maintain your word understanding. Studies have shown that people who only wear one hearing aid may have a quicker decrease in word understanding in the unaided/untreated ear when compared to the ear that has a hearing aid. When it comes to understanding speech, if you don’t use it you lose it. This is due to auditory deprivation. Auditory deprivation occurs when your brain and auditory pathway are not getting fully utilized. Meaning if the brain is not getting stimulated effectively it may start to lose its ability to understand.

It is important to stay educated on your health, especially when it comes to hearing. This is why it is also very important to speak with a trusted health professional when making decisions about your hearing health. If you have recently completed a hearing test or have hearing concerns, call your audiologist. They will help you understand your hearing and walk you through hearing care options.

Ali Carmichael is an audiologist at Audiology Consultants, P.C.  For more information consult our ad in this publication for store locations and phone numbers.