It’s uncommon for people to get identical degree of hearing loss in both ears simultaneously. One ear is normally a little worse than the other, sparking many to raise the question: Do I really need a set of hearing aids, or can I simply manage the ear with more considerable hearing loss?
One hearing aid, in many cases, will not be better than two. But there are certain instances, considerably less common instances, that is, that one hearing aid may be the right choice.
You Have Two Ears For a Reason
Your ears efficiently function as a pair whether you know it or not. That means wearing two hearing aids has specific benefits over using one.
- Being Able to Localize Correctly: Your brain is always doing work, not only to interpret sounds but to place them so that you can determine where they’re coming from. This is much easier when your brain can triangulate, and in order to do that, it requires solid inputs from both ears. When you’re only able to hear well from one ear, it’s much more difficult to figure out where a sound is coming from (Which might be useful, for example, if you live next to a busy street).
- Improved Ear Health: An unused sense will atrophy in the same way as an unused muscle will. Your hearing can begin 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 decrease tinnitus (if you have it) and improve your ability to identify sounds.
- Modern Hearing Aids Work Together: Just as your ears work together naturally, modern hearing aid technology is made to function as a pair. The two hearing aids communicate with each other using state-of-the-art features and artificial intelligence to, similar to your brain, recognize which sounds to focus on and amplify.
- Tuning in on Conversations: If you’re using a hearing aid, the whole point is to help you in hearing. Other people conversing is something you will definitely need to hear. Wearing two hearing aids allows your brain to better tune out background noises. Because your mind has more available data your brain can figure out what is closer and consequently more likely to be something you would want to focus on.
Are There Circumstances Where A Single Hearing Aid Is Sensible?
In the majority of circumstances, using a pair of hearing aids is a better option. But that begs the question: If somebody is wearing a hearing aid in only one ear, why?
Well, usually there are two reasons:
- One Ear Still Has Perfect Hearing: If just 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 talk to your hearing professional about (having one better ear is not the same as having one perfect ear).
- Financial concerns: Some people feel that they can spend less money if they can wear just one hearing aid. If you really can’t afford to get two, getting one is better than not getting one at all. Still, you should recognize that over time untreated hearing loss has been confirmed to raise your overall healthcare expenses. Even neglecting 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 specialist to make certain getting only a single hearing aid is a smart plan for you. Discovering ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is an additional service we offer.
One Hearing Aid is Not as Effective as Two
In the vast majority of situations, however, two hearing aids are going to be healthier for your ears and your hearing than just one. The benefits of having strong hearing in both of your ears are simply too many to dismiss. In most cases, just like having two ears is better than having only one, having two hearing aids is definitely preferable to having only one. Make an appointment with a hearing care pro to have your hearing tested.