It’s uncommon that people get the same levels of hearing loss in both ears at the same time. One ear is usually a little bit worse than the other, triggering many to raise the question: Can I simply get one hearing aid for the ear that’s worse.
One hearing aid, in most situations, will not be preferable to two. But there are some instances, significantly less common instances, however, in which a single hearing aid could be the way to go.
It’s Not accidental That Ears Come in a Pair
Whether you know it or not, your ears efficiently work as a pair. That means wearing two hearing aids has certain advantages over using one.
- The Ability to Properly Localize: In order to figure out 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 can 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 much harder to figure out where a sound is coming from (Which may come in handy, for example, if you live next to a busy street).
- Modern Hearing Aids Work Together: Modern hearing aid technology is made to work as a pair just like your ears are. The artificial intelligence and sophisticated features work well because the two pieces communicate with each other and, much like your brain, identify which sounds to amplify and focus on.
- Tuning in on Conversations: If you’re using a hearing aid, the whole point is to assist you in hearing. Other people conversing is something you will certainly need to hear. Because your brain has more sound input when wearing hearing aids, it is better able to filter out background noise allowing it to decide what sounds to focus on because they are closer.
- Improved Ear Health: An unused sense will atrophy just like an unused muscle will. If your ears go for long periods without an input, your hearing can start to go downhill. Get the organs of your ears the input they require to maintain your hearing by using two hearing aids. If you already have tinnitus, using two hearing aids can minimize it and also increase your ability to discern sounds.
Are There Situations Where One Hearing Aid Makes Sense?
Wearing two hearing aids is usually a better choice. But that raises the question: If somebody is using a hearing aid in just one ear, why?
Well, commonly there are two reasons:
- One Ear Still Has Perfect Hearing: If only one of your ears needs a hearing aid, then you could be best served by using 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 use just one hearing aid. If you really can’t afford to get two, one is better than not getting one at all. Still, you should understand that with time untreated hearing loss has been proven to raise your overall healthcare expenses. Even disregarding hearing loss for two years has been shown to raise your healthcare costs by 26 percent, and neglecting any hearing loss in one ear will increase your chances of things like falling. So in order to learn if using one hearing aid is the right choice for you, talk to a hearing care specialist. Discovering ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is another service we offer.
One Hearing Aid is Not as Effective as Two
In the vast majority of situations, however, two hearing aids will be better for your ears and your hearing than only one. The benefits of having strong hearing in both of your ears are simply too plentiful to disregard. In most cases, just like having two ears is better than having one, having two hearing aids is definitely preferable to having only one. Schedule an appointment with a hearing care pro to get your hearing examined.