Why Wear Two Hearing Aids Rather Than One?
When it comes to hearing aids, people ask themselves many questions to help them make the best choice.
Which hearing aid model, type and technology should I turn to? Is one hearing aid enough, or should I wear two? The latter question is even more important considering that, according to some criteria, the Régie de l’assurance maladie covers the cost of only a single hearing aid, even when both ears are affected by hearing loss.
However, like many things in life, two is better than one! Many studies have shown the importance of bilateral amplification (wearing two hearing aids), except where contraindicated because of a medical condition.
Countering Sensory Deprivation
Without hearing aids, ears affected by hearing loss transmit sound stimuli to the brain less effectively. Wearing two hearing aids therefore makes it easier to distinguish between sounds.
Avoiding Interaural Imbalance
Wearing two hearing aids helps restore interaural balance (between the two ears), which makes listening more comfortable. Bilateral amplification also makes it easier to determine the source of sounds in the environment, since the brain localizes sounds by comparing their volume or the time it takes for them to arrive in each ear.
Providing Better Sound Quality
Bilateral amplification allows the brain to receive information from both ears, providing a much more natural sound. Additionally, bilateral amplification doesn’t just help people adapt to wearing hearing aids. It also improves speech understanding in noisy environments, such as restaurants or family reunions. This can be partly explained by the summation effect, a phenomenon in which comprehension abilities are improved by the combined work of both ears rather than each ear’s individual abilities.
Just like the brain needs two eyes to see well, it needs two ears to hear well. Did you know that 80% of hearing-impaired people are affected by binaural hearing loss? Most hearing-impaired people would therefore benefit from wearing hearing aids in both ears.
During your next appointment with your audioprosthetist, ask about the benefits of wearing two hearing aids.
Did You Know? As part of the last provincial budget, the government improved the independent living tax credit for seniors. Hearing aids are now eligible for this credit. As of the 2018 taxation year, the refundable tax credit is equal to 20% of the amount paid by the taxpayer for the year, not including the first $250. Talk to an accountant or visit Revenu Québec’s website to learn more!
Don't forget!
An assessment by an audioprosthetist is required to determine which hearing aid suits the patient's needs.
