One Hearing Aid or Two??

Q. Dear Dr. Goldstein:
My sister wears one hearing aid and says she is satisfied with it. I think that she still asks us to repeat a lot.

I just had my hearing tested by an audiologist who told me that I definitely need two hearing aids. Can you tell me if two hearing aids are better, than one?

T.S. Brecksville

A. Dear TS:

Most people who have hearing loss need two hearing aids.

If a person has hearing loss in only one ear, or if one of the ear is completely dead, then only one hearing aid can be worn. Some people cannot afford to buy two hearing aids, and buying one is generally better than none at all.

There are at least eight reasons why wearing two hearing aids will give better hearing help than one:

1. You need two ears to locate sound properly.

You cannot localize sound when wearing one hearing aid. This is especially important while driving a car, and while participating in conversation with three or more people in difficult to hear environments.

2. Persons with hearing loss have the greatest difficulty understanding voices in noisy situations.

You need to wear two hearing aids in noise to have voices "stand out" as being more clear and understandable than the noise.

3. When a person wears only one hearing aid, the hearing aid must be turned up pretty loud in order to hear and understand what others are saying.

When a person wears two hearing aids, the volume control of both hearing aids can be turned lower. This produces better understanding at lower volumes.

4. Persons who wear two hearing aids are less confused by unfamiliar noises around them.

Less confusion means LESS STRESS to hear others correctly.

5. Many persons who wear hearing aids report that they feel more "balanced" while wearing two hearing aids.

6. Years of research have shown that when people wear two hearing aids instead of one, they understand the beginnings and endings of words much more clearly.

7. Persons who have hearing loss in both ears; and only wear one hearing aid; suffer from the "shadow effect" of the head.

People talking on the side of the hearing aid are easy to hear, while people talking on the side without the hearing aid are not clear, because the head blocks (shadows) the sound.

8: When you wear two hearing aids, you are much more confident sitting between people in the middle of a conversation.

You are less likely to avoid the conversation, and more likely to jump in and participate.

T.S., if your audiologist has recommended two hearing aids; you will improve your communication best by going ahead and purchasing two hearing aids. Do it, and Good Luck.