Diplacusis: the syndrome of "double hearing"

Diplacusis can affect both ears or just one ear. We speak of bilateral diplacusis when the splitting of sound occurs in the two ear canals, while when the hearing loss concerns only one ear we speak of unilateral diplacusis. In both cases, the disorder can be temporary or permanent. Furthermore, based on the characteristics of the altered perception of sounds and noises, diplacusis can be divided into:

• monauralis: the sound is perceived by the same ear as two different sounds;
• binauralis: the sound is perceived differently between the two ears;
• disharmonic: the sound is perceived with a different tone in one ear but clearly and exactly in the other;
• echoica: the times of perception of the sound are different between the two ears causing an echo situation.
  

As with any other ear disease, the possibilities of treating diplacusis are also linked to treating the underlying causes. For this reason, when the first symptoms appear, it is advisable to contact a specialized doctor who, through a series of tests, will investigate the source of the disorder:

• If the cause of the diplacusis is transient such as an obstruction of the ear cavity or an infection, it will be enough to follow a specific treatment to return to hearing well.
• If, on the other hand, the diplacusis is the consequence of a more serious hearing problem or has turned into a chronic and permanent condition, the possibilities for treatment are limited. In these situations, it is advisable to consult a hearing specialist to identify the most suitable hearing aid to counteract this alteration in the perception of sound and help those who suffer from it to distinguish the frequencies and their origin.