For most people both ears rarely have the same exact amount of hearing loss. One ear is usually a little worse than the other, triggering many to raise the question: Can I just use one hearing aid in the ear that's worse.

One hearing aid, in many cases, will not be better than two. But there are certain instances, significantly less common instances, that is, that one hearing aid may be the way to go.

It's Not accidental That Ears Come in a Pair

Whether you're aware of it or not, your ears effectively work as a pair. Which means that there are certain benefits to using two hearing aids.

  • Being Able to Localize Correctly: In order to figure out where sounds are coming from, your brain is not only working to interpret but also to place it. This is much easier when your brain can triangulate, and to do that, it requires solid signals from both ears. It is much more difficult to determine where sounds are coming from when you can only hear well out of one ear (Which may come in handy, for instance, if you live near a busy street).
  • Modern Hearing Aids Work as a Set: Just as your ears work as a pair naturally, newer hearing aid technology is designed to function as a pair. The two hearing aids communicate with one another using state-of-the-art features and artificial intelligence to, much like your brain, determine which sounds to amplify and focus on.
  • Tuning in on Conversations: The whole point of wearing a hearing aid is to help your hearing. One of the things you want to hear is other people and the conversation happening around you. Because your brain has more sound input when wearing hearing aids, it is better able to filter out background noise allowing it to determine what sounds to focus on because they are closer.
  • Improved Ear Health: In the same way as seldom used muscles can atrophy, so can an unused sense. If your ears go for long periods without input signals, your hearing can start to go downhill. Wearing hearing aids in both ears guarantees that the organs linked to hearing get the input necessary to preserve your hearing. Wearing two hearing aids will also help reduce tinnitus (if you have it) and increase your ability to identify sounds.

Does One Hearing Aid Make Sense in Some Scenarios?

Wearing a pair of hearing aids is usually a better choice. But that brings up the question: If a person is wearing a hearing aid in only one ear, why?

Well, normally there are two reasons:

  • Monetary concerns: Some people feel that they can spend less money if they can use only one hearing aid. If you truly can't afford to buy two, getting one is better than not getting one at all. It's significant to understand, however, it has been proven that your overall health costs will increase if you have untreated hearing loss. Your healthcare costs have been demonstrated to increase by 26 percent after only two years of untreated hearing loss. So in order to discover if wearing one hearing aid is the right choice for you, consult with a hearing care specialist. Finding ways to help make hearing aids more affordable is another service we offer.
  • You still have perfect hearing out of one ear: If only one of your ears needs a hearing aid, then you may be best served by having a hearing aid in just one ear but it's certainly something you should talk to your hearing professional about (having one better ear is not the same thing as having one perfect ear).

One Hearing Aid is Not as Beneficial as Two

In the vast majority of situations, however, two hearing aids are going to be better for your ears and your hearing than just one. The benefits of having strong hearing in both of your ears are simply too plentiful to ignore. So, yes, in most cases, two hearing aids are better than one (just like two ears are better than one). Make an appointment with a hearing care pro to get your hearing checked.