When you receive a hearing test revealing hearing loss in both ears, it's natural to wonder if you need to treat both ears with hearing aids. As an audiology practice in Manhattan, we often hear this question from our patients. Getting the right solution for your hearing needs makes a meaningful difference in how you connect with family, friends, and the vibrant world of New York City around you.
The Human Hearing System
Our ears and brain form an intricate system that requires coordination between both ears for optimal hearing. The brain processes sound signals from each ear and combines them into a single, coherent auditory experience. This binaural (two-ear) processing involves complex neural pathways that analyze timing differences, sound intensity, and frequency patterns between the ears.
When sound reaches our ears, even microsecond differences in arrival time between the right and left ears help our brain determine sound location. The brain also compares the intensity of sounds between ears - a sound will be slightly louder in the ear closer to its source. These subtle differences, which occur naturally with two functioning ears, give us our sense of sound direction and spatial awareness.
Beyond sound localization, binaural hearing plays a crucial role in speech understanding. The brain uses slight differences in timing and intensity between ears to separate speech from background noise, a phenomenon known as the "cocktail party effect." This allows us to focus on a single conversation even in noisy environments. When hearing loss affects both ears but only one is treated with a hearing aid, this delicate system is disrupted, making it harder for the brain to process sound accurately and efficiently.
The brain's auditory processing centers are designed to receive and integrate input from both ears. When one ear goes untreated, these neural pathways don't receive the balanced stimulation they need, potentially leading to changes in how the brain processes sound over time.
Benefits of Wearing Two Hearing Aids
Better Sound Localization
With two hearing aids, you can more accurately determine where sounds are coming from. This spatial awareness is crucial for safety, especially in urban environments like our Manhattan location where being aware of traffic and other environmental sounds is essential.
Improved Speech Understanding in Noise
Modern hearing aids like the ReSound Vivia and Oticon Intent work together as a system, sharing information between the left and right devices. This coordination helps separate speech from background noise more effectively than a single hearing aid can achieve alone. The sophisticated directional systems in these devices, including features like Oticon Intent's adaptive sound processing, work best when used as a pair.
Reduced Listening Effort
Using two hearing aids requires less strain to hear clearly. When you only wear one hearing aid, you may find yourself turning your "good" ear toward sounds and struggling more to understand conversations. Two hearing aids help distribute the workload of hearing between both ears, making listening more natural and less tiring.
Better Sound Quality
Wearing two hearing aids allows for better sound quality at lower volumes. Since each hearing aid can be set at a lower volume while still achieving the same overall loudness, there's less risk of distortion and feedback. This creates a more balanced, natural listening experience.
Protection Against Auditory Deprivation
When hearing loss goes untreated in one ear, the auditory nerve and related brain pathways can gradually lose their ability to process sound effectively - a phenomenon called auditory deprivation. Using two hearing aids helps keep both auditory systems active and healthy.
Technology Working Together
Today's advanced hearing aids are designed to work as a pair. The ReSound Vivia, for example, features sophisticated AI-driven sound processing and Intelligent Focus that function optimally when both devices are working together. Similarly, the Oticon Intent's adaptive sound processing system provides the best results when fitted as a pair.
The latest Phonak Infinio platform demonstrates this with its dual-chip architecture and AutoSense OS 6.0, which automatically adjusts settings based on your listening environment. These features work most effectively when both hearing aids are communicating with each other.
Cost Considerations
While the initial investment in two hearing aids is higher than one, the benefits typically outweigh the additional cost. Many hearing aid users report that the improved hearing experience with two devices significantly impacts their daily life, from better communication with family to increased confidence in social situations.
Special Cases: Single-Sided Hearing Loss
Some patients come to our Manhattan practice with hearing loss that affects just one ear, or with one ear that has no usable hearing. This condition, known as single-sided hearing loss or deafness, presents unique challenges that require specialized treatment approaches.
For patients with single-sided deafness, we offer advanced CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signal) technology through the ReSound Vivia CROS system. This innovative solution uses a transmitter worn on the non-hearing ear to capture sounds and wirelessly send them to a hearing aid worn on the better-hearing ear. This helps restore awareness of sounds coming from the affected side.
The ReSound Vivia CROS system features the same advanced technology as the standard Vivia hearing aids, including sophisticated directional microphones and wireless connectivity. This system helps overcome many of the challenges of single-sided hearing loss, such as difficulty localizing sounds and understanding speech in noisy environments.
For patients with hearing loss in only one ear who still have usable hearing in that ear, a single hearing aid may be the most appropriate solution. During your hearing evaluation with Dr. Iheagwara, we'll assess your specific type and degree of hearing loss to determine the most effective treatment approach for your situation.
Making the Right Choice for Your Hearing
The decision between one or two hearing aids should be based on your specific hearing needs, lifestyle, and the recommendations of your audiologist. During a hearing evaluation, we perform comprehensive testing to understand your unique hearing profile and can demonstrate the difference between using one versus two hearing aids.
Schedule Your Hearing Consultation
If you're considering hearing aids or want to learn more about whether two hearing aids would benefit you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Iheagwara at our Manhattan practice. During your visit, we can discuss your specific hearing needs and demonstrate the latest hearing aid technology, including the ReSound Vivia, Oticon Intent, and Phonak Infinio. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision that will provide the best possible hearing experience for your lifestyle.
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