Is One Hearing Aid Sufficient or do I Need Two?

For most people both ears rarely have exactly the same amount of hearing loss. One ear is normally a small amount worse than the other, sparking many to ask the question: Can I just get one hearing aid in the ear that’s worse.

In most instances, two hearing aids are will be preferable to just one. But there are certain instances, considerably less common instances, that is, that a single hearing aid might be the right choice.

You Have A Pair of Ears For a Reason

Your ears effectively function as a pair whether you’re aware of it or not. That means wearing two hearing aids has certain advantages over using one.

• The Ability to Correctly Localize: Your brain is always working, not only to understand sounds but to place them so that you can figure out where they’re coming from. This is a lot easier when your brain can triangulate, and in order to do that, it requires solid signals from both ears. When you’re only able to hear well from one ear, it’s much harder to determine where a sound is coming from (which could be essential if you happen to live near a busy street, for example).
• Make The Health of Your Ears Better: Just as unused muscles can atrophy, so too can an unused sense. Your hearing can start to go downhill if your ears don’t get regular sound input. Get the organs of your ears the input they require to preserve your hearing by wearing two hearing aids. If you already have tinnitus, wearing two hearing aids can minimize it and also increase your ability to identify sounds.
• Concentrating When People Are Talking: If you’re using a hearing aid, the whole point is to assist your hearing. One of the things you want to hear is peoples conversations going on around you. Using two hearing aids allows your brain to better filter out background noises. Because your mind has more available data your brain is able to determine what is closer and therefore more likely to be something you want to focus on.
• Modern Hearing Aids Work as a Set: Just as your ears work together normally, more modern hearing aid technology is made to work as a pair. The artificial intelligence and advanced features function well because the two pieces communicate with one another and, similar to your brain, determine which sounds to focus on and amplify.

Is One Hearing Practical in Some Situations?

Using two hearing aids is the better choice in most cases. But the question is raised: why would somebody wear a hearing aid in just one ear?<

Well, usually there are two reasons:

• One Ear Still Has Perfect Hearing: 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 certainly 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 people feel that they can spend less money if they can use just one hearing aid. Getting one hearing aid is better then getting none if you can’t really afford a pair. It’s important to understand, however, it has been proven that your general health costs will increase if you have untreated hearing loss. Even ignoring hearing loss for two years has been shown to increase your healthcare costs by 26 percent, and neglecting any hearing loss in one ear will elevate your risks for things like falling. So talk to your hearing expert to make certain only getting one hearing aid is a good plan for you. Finding ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is an additional service we offer.

Two Aids Are Preferable to One

In the vast majority of situations, however, two hearing aids are going to be healthier for your ears and your hearing than just one. There are just too many advantages to having good hearing in both ears to disregard. So, yes, in the majority of cases, two hearing aids are a better choice than one (just like two ears are better than one). Make an appointment with a hearing care pro to have your hearing checked.