One or two hearing aids?

Hearing with both ears is important for both localizing sounds and for communicating in noisy environments. One would think, therefore, that a binaural fitting- the use of two hearing aids- would always be optimal, but this would be similar to claiming that most people using glasses would need to have their eyesight corrected for both eyes.

When the expert responsible for fitting of the hearing aids suggests that two hearing aids might be the best solution, it often happens that the person with hearing loss says, “I am not that deaf”, thereby indicating a certain reservation towards testing the possibilities offered by modern hearing aids.

In addition to improving the ability to localize sounds and to communicate in difficult listening situations, the fitting of two hearing aids also makes it possible to create the correct sound balance, so that the hearing impaired will have a feeling of balance between the sounds coming from the right and left side. There are, however, a number of circumstances that may contribute to the fact that not all hearing-impaired people-including those with considerable hearing losses on both ears- will benefit from using two hearing aids.

It is not always possible to make a binaural fitting because some hearing losses develop in such a way that one of the ears no longer contributes effectively to the understanding of speech. Before a binaural fitting is attempted, it is therefore important to test whether both ears are in fact able to transmit speech information to the brain, and thereby avoid making decision to fit two hearing aids on the basis of an audiogram alone.

To attempt a binaural fitting in cases where one of the ears does not function may ruin the possibility of a good result, because the hearing aid on the bad ear will often contribute with distorted sounds and noise instead of additional information.

In some cases, however, it is possible to create a good sound balance despite the fact that one of the ears contributes very little to the understanding of speech.

The final decision to fit one or two hearing aids depends, therefore, on whether or not the user can benefit from them. If a binaural fitting is not selected, the hearing expert must concentrate on finding the optimal adjustment of the hearing aid for the better ear.

In a case of a long-lasting, asymmetrical hearing impairment, the brain may have become accustomed to utilizing the information coming from the better ear, in which case the worst ear is “forgotten”. If the worst ear is not used, its ability to transmit speech information to the brain may deteriorate and finally it may no longer be brought to function again, even after long-lasting training with a hearing aid- and in spite of the fact that the audiogram may tell a different story.

In contrast, in the event that the worst ear is still functioning, it is important to keep it stimulated and, in such cases, the worst ear should also be fitted with a hearing aid. This all depends in the cortical plasticity of the brain.

Do you have a hearing loss? Looking to get some hearing aids fitted? At Attune Hearing, our highly trained audiologists provide comprehensive hearing assessments for all ages and suitable recommendations on what hearing aids would best cater to your needs. Call today on 1300 736 702 and speak with one of our client advocates for a booking.