For most people both ears don’t normally have exactly the same amount of hearing loss. One ear is usually a little bit worse than the other, sparking many to ask the question: Can I simply get one hearing aid in the ear that’s worse.
One hearing aid, in most cases, will not be preferable to two. But a single hearing aid might be an acceptable choice in some less common circumstances.
You Have A Pair of Ears For a Reason
Whether you’re aware of it or not, your ears effectively function as a pair. That means wearing two hearing aids has certain benefits over wearing one.
- Being Able to Localize Properly: In order to figure out where sounds are coming from, your brain is not only working to interpret but also to place it. In order to correctly triangulate where sound is coming from, your brain requires input from both ears. When you can only hear well from one ear, it’s a lot more difficult to figure out where a sound is coming from (which may be essential if you happen to live near a busy street, for example).
- 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. Wearing hearing aids in both ears guarantees that the organs associated with hearing receive the input they need to maintain your hearing. Wearing two hearing aids will also help reduce tinnitus (if you have it) and increase your ability to identify sounds.
- Modern Hearing Aids Work as a Set: Just as your ears work together naturally, newer hearing aid technology is made to function as a pair. The two hearing aids communicate with one another using state-of-the-art features and artificial intelligence to, similar to your brain, determine which sounds to amplify and focus on.
- Concentrating When People Are Talking: If you use a hearing aid, the whole point is to help your hearing. One of the things you want to hear is other people and the conversation going on near you. Using two hearing aids lets your brain to better filter out background noises. Because your mind has more available data your brain is able to decide what is closer and consequently more likely to be something you would want to focus on.
Does One Hearing Aid Make Sense in Certain Scenarios?
In most instances, wearing two hearing aids is the smarter option. But that brings up the question: why would someone use a hearing aid in only one ear?
Well, normally there are two reasons:
- Monetary concerns: Some people feel that they can save money if they can use only one hearing aid. If you really can’t afford to buy two, one is better than not getting one at all. It’s significant to know, however, it has been proven that your general health costs will increase if you have untreated hearing loss. Your healthcare expenses have been demonstrated to rise by 26 percent after just two years of neglected hearing loss. So talk to your hearing specialist to make certain only getting one hearing aid is a good plan for you. We can also help you figure ways to make hearing aids more budget friendly.
- You still have perfect hearing out of one ear: If just 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).
Two Aids Are Preferable to One
In most cases, however, two hearing aids will be better for your ears and your hearing than just one. There are just too many benefits to having good hearing in both ears to dismiss. So, yes, in most circumstances, two hearing aids are better than one (just as two ears are better than one). Schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional to get your hearing tested.
