Why do I need two hearing aids?

When considering hearing aids, clients and their families often ask whether one hearing aid is enough, or if they need two. In most cases when there is hearing loss in both ears, opting for a pair hearing aids can provide you with significantly better hearing outcomes.

Here’s some of the reasons that two hearing aids can help you experience the best possible hearing: 

Improved speech understanding 
While one hearing aid is likely to help in quieter settings, wearing two hearing aids can greatly enhance your ability to understand speech, especially in challenging listening situations like restaurants or social gatherings. Many new hearing aids feature advanced technologies that allow two hearing aids in a pair to work together to help filter out background noise and focus on the speaker. For example, directional microphones and adaptive noise reduction technologies work best when both ears are aided. These features allow for better differentiation between sounds and improved filtering of background noise, ensuring clearer speech perception, improved sound quality, and greater listening ease and comfort in any environment.  

Enhanced sound localisation 
To be able to tell where a sound is coming from, the brain relies on information from both ears. This ability, known as sound localisation, is very important for understanding conversations in noisy environments. When you wear two hearing aids, your brain gets the information it needs from both ears to be able to accurately interpret spatial cues and identify the direction of a sound. This improves awareness of your surrounding as well as making it easier to hear in background noise.   

Balanced hearing experience 
When only one hearing aid is worn by someone with hearing loss in both ears, sounds usually sound louder in that ear creating an imbalance. Wearing two hearing aids helps to maintain a more balanced listening experience, ensuring that sounds on both sides of the head are at the correct volume relative to each other. Imagine you are sitting at a dinner table with one person speaking on either side of you. Wearing two hearing aids allows you to hear both speakers and choose who to turn and listen to, rather than hearing only the person on the side you are wearing a hearing aid.  

Reduced auditory deprivation 
When hearing loss remains untreated, auditory deprivation can occur. This is a condition where the brain's ability to process sounds declines over time due to lack of stimulation. Research suggests that by using two hearing aids important pathways in the brain are maintained, preserving function and potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline associated with untreated hearing loss. 

Connectivity 
Many hearing aids now offer connectivity options, such as smartphone apps and audio streaming. An app can allow you to adjust your hearing aid settings, create personalised listening profiles, and access real-time sound adjustments based on the environment. Having two hearing aids optimises this experience by synchronising settings across both devices. 

Bluetooth streaming can allow handsfree phone calls or enable you to listen to media such as music and podcasts streamed directly to your hearing aids. Most people find this experience best when wearing two hearing aids so that sound goes straight to both ears – just like when wearing wireless headphones.  

Conclusion 
Choosing between one or two hearing aids can have a significant impact on your overall hearing ability and your quality of life. While one hearing aid is likely to be helpful, especially in quiet settings, wearing two can dramatically improve sound quality, speech understanding, and your ability to engage in conversations and enjoy group settings.   

The team at Bellbird Hearing would be happy to discuss with you whether two hearing aids are right for you and the right aids to meet your individual hearing needs and lifestyle.