Binaural hearing is the term to describe hearing with both ears. Our brain uses information received from each ear to help us hear well. Specifically, our brain uses information about the intensity of the sound reaching each ear, as well as the time that the sound reaches each ear.
Our brain uses the data from each ear to help us localize a sound source. Being able to localize the source of a sound is important for safety reasons. We also need two ears to hear well in noisy situations. People with normal hearing in both ears are more likely to hear better in noisy environments. This ability to hear well in noise if often referred to as the “Cocktail party effect.” Finally, listening with two ears is simply easier and more relaxing for the listener. Individuals who wear only one hearing aid are at a definite disadvantage and are often frustrated when trying to hear well. Two hearing aids will provide the listener with a more natural listening experience.
Auditory deprivation refers to a person’s lack of adequate hearing stimulation. With auditory deprivation, the brain gradually loses some of its information processing ability. Several investigations have shown that people, who wear only one hearing aid, experience a reduction in their ability to understand speech in the ear that has not been stimulated with an aid. The ability of the auditory system to process speech declines due to a lack of stimulation.
Many individuals with hearing impairment wait many years before they try hearing aids. They have gone for a long time without stimulation to either ear, and their ability to understand speech in both ears is often poor.In summary, if the patient has the same degree of hearing impairment in each ear, two hearing aids will usually provide the best hearing, and two aids should be recommended. Two instruments provide for better listening in competing noise, improved sound localization, and a more natural sound. Also, the sound is usually more comfortable since the volume controls are usually reduced when using two hearing devices. Stimulating the ears with the aids should help reduce the possibility of auditory deprivation. Two hearing aids will usually make a dramatic difference, while only one aid may be disappointing in difficult listening situations.