Should I use one or two hearing aids?

Wearing one or two hearing aids: which is better?

If you have hearing loss in both ears, using two hearing aids is the way to go. This approach not only improves your ability to hear but also enhances the clarity of sounds, making it easier to distinguish between different voices and background noises. By wearing hearing aids in both ears, you can experience a more balanced and natural sound environment, which is crucial for effective communication. 

What is hearing loss?

Hearing loss is a condition that occurs when hearing is reduced from normal levels of sound perception. It can be caused by various factors, including ageing, prolonged exposure to loud noises, ear infections, head injuries and genetic problems. Hearing loss can affect one or both ears and can vary in severity from mild to profound, significantly interfering with the ability to communicate and interact with one's surroundings.

Bilateral hearing loss: do you need two hearing aids?

Bilateral hearing loss occurs when both ears are affected by a decrease in hearing ability. Using two hearing aids in these cases is crucial because it allows for balanced and more natural sound perception. Bilateral hearing helps to better localise sound sources, understand speech more clearly in noisy environments and improve the quality of daily life. Wearing two hearing aids provides more uniform auditory stimulation to the brain, reducing hearing strain and improving overall comprehension.

Unilateral hearing loss: can I buy just one hearing aid?

Unilateral hearing loss refers to a decrease in hearing ability in only one ear, while the other remains normal or near-normal. In these cases, the decision to use one or two hearing aids depends on the severity and impact of the hearing loss. In many cases, a single hearing aid in the affected ear may be sufficient to significantly improve hearing. However, in more complex situations, it may be worth considering the use of advanced technology, such as CROS hearing aids, which transmit sound from the less functioning ear to the better functioning ear, improving the overall hearing experience.

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Benefits of wearing two hearing aids

The brain needs both ears

In order to be able to properly listen to and register all the sounds of everyday life, the brain needs both ears. This means, if you suffer from bilateral hearing loss, wearing two hearing aids can help the brain to better process sound waves.

The ability to tell where a sound is coming from

With two hearing aids, you can detect where sounds are coming from in a timely manner. This is very important to identify the source of sounds and other dangers in time to react, such as an approaching car in road traffic.

Hearing in stereo is better

Wearing two hearing aids offers wearers the natural stereo effect, also known as hearing from both sides. This makes it easier to perceive external noises and have a better hearing experience.

Prevent auditory deprivation

Wearing two hearing aids can help prevent hearing deprivation, which helps keep the brain's auditory stimulation and auditory neural networks active, thereby also slowing down any related physiological decay.

Some hearing aids are designed to work in pairs

Just as a person's ears communicate, in a manner of speaking, with one another through the central nervous system, so do modern hearing aids. In this way, they can guarantee that directional hearing is maintained, even if each hearing aid supports different ear functions.

You can keep hearing aids at a lower volume

Wearing two hearing aids means having the ability to maintain them at a lower volume than if you were wearing just one, This is because hearing aids can communicate with each other wirelessly and are tuned to one another, ensuring a seamless experience even at a low volume.
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Tinnitus: using two hearing aids can help

Tinnitus and hearing aids are both a problem and a solution for those suffering from a hearing impairment. For those who suffer from tinnitus, two hearing aids can help considerably. As a matter of fact, in the same way that an individual's ears communicate with each other via the central nervous system, our state-of-the-art hearing aids can also communicate with each other to improve your overall hearing experience.

Improve user experience

Due to their stereo effect, two hearing aids can offer a more complete hearing experience that is almost identical to what non-hearing impaired people naturally hear.

The importance of regular check-ups

It is always important to check our hearing and not to underestimate the first signals our body gives us. This is why we invite you to visit the amplifon centre near you so that you can talk to specialists and undergo the various tests.

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