Do I need to buy two hearing aids?

Budget concerns often lead people to question if one hearing aid can adequately compensate for their hearing loss. While the audiologist must address this concern with each patient individually, wearing two hearing aids offers several advantages for those who have hearing loss in both ears:

• Improved speech understanding, especially in noise
• The brain receives auditory input from both ears. As the brain interprets sound, it uses information from both ears to distinguish between noises such as background noise and speech. If the brain receives data from one side and not from another, it can misinterpret what is heard.
• Research shows that most listeners who wear two hearing aids have an easier time understanding speech in the presence of background noise. Click here to read about this.

• Improved sound localization
• Sound localization refers to the ability to determine where a sound originates. Two hearing aids receive sound from both sides of the head and transmit the information to the brain. If the sound signals are always louder through one ear, the brain has more difficulty identifying the source. However, if the brain is able to compare the relative loudness of what is heard, it can more easily and accurately determine the location of the sound.

• Improved sound quality
• Two hearing aids allow the audiologist to lower the volume for both aids. This promotes the audibility of soft sounds while limiting the distortion of louder sounds. It also promotes a sense of auditory balance, fullness, and clarity.
• An estimated 10 dB of additional gain can be added to promote the overall enhancement of sound quality when two hearing aids are worn. Click here to read about this.

• Reduction in the annoyance of tinnitus
• When tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, hearing aids can be used to manage its symptoms. Click here for information on research that shows how two hearing aids are more effective than one hearing aid in relieving the annoyance of tinnitus.

Appalachian Audiology's Green Team Initiatives.

130 Mabry Hood Road, Suite 103   |   Knoxville, TN 37922   |   tel: (865) 357-2334   |   fax: (865) 357-2416   

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