Hearing Aids Can Help Single-Sided Hearing Loss
Most people with hearing loss have reduced ability in both ears. The two most common forms of hearing loss—age-related loss, otherwise known as presbycusis, and noise-induced hearing loss—both tend to affect two ears at once. In the first case, the aging process doesn’t select just one ear to cause hearing damage. In the other case, most noise exposure occurs in a way that damages both ears at the same time. Although bilateral hearing loss, which occurs in both ears, is the most common form, some people have single-sided, or unilateral, hearing loss. These people often report having a “bad ear,” and they may even ask others to talk into the “good ear” to make it easier to communicate. If you have single-sided hearing loss, you might think that only one hearing aids is necessary to serve your needs. Although this approach seems intuitive, there are actually benefits to getting two hearing aids, even if you have single-sided hearing loss. Let’s take a closer look at single-sided hearing loss, as well as the reasons that experts recommend two hearing aids rather than one.
Unilateral Hearing Loss vs. Asymmetrical Hearing Loss
Although it might seem like you have only one “bad ear,” you might in fact have some reduction in hearing ability in both ears. Many people, when self-diagnosing their condition, believe that they only have hearing loss in one ear. In fact, they might have what is called asymmetrical hearing loss. Although one ear’s hearing ability is worse than the other, there is commonly some loss of hearing ability in both ears. Comparatively, you might think that only one ear is affected, because the loss is asymmetrical between the two ears. In reality, you might have some hearing loss in the “good ear,” as well, prompting an audiologist to prescribe hearing aids for both ears rather than one.
Spatial Orientation and Hearing Loss
Another benefit to getting two hearing aids rather than one is the use of new technology to assist with spatial orientation. When you have hearing loss, your awareness of sounds in space can change, making it difficult to orient in the environment. In fact, some people with asymmetrical or unilateral hearing loss even experience balance issues and dizziness as a result. When they are faced with a sonic environment, it can be difficult to determine where sounds are coming from and how to adjust to moving sound sources. New technology is designed to assist with spatial orientation by using what sound specialists call the stereo field. We tend to use the two sides of our heads to combine for a surround-sound effect. Even if one ear has seriously limited hearing ability, stereo imaging in the sound profile can create the effect of space. Remarkable new hearing aids can even produce stereo effects in one ear, helping those who have little to no hearing ability in one ear feel as if they are hearing in 180 degrees around the body. This technology is particularly effective for those who struggle to orient in space and to find their balance despite having one bad ear compared to the other.
Seeking Treatment for Single-Sided Hearing Loss
If you know that you have worse hearing ability in one ear than the other, this information will help us complete our diagnostic assessment of your needs. We will perform a full analysis of your ability through a hearing test, but we will also consult with you about your experiences of difficult hearing. In this conversation, we encourage you to let us know which environments or social settings make it the most difficult to hear. We will also want to know any specific details about your needs, including your experience of asymmetrical hearing loss or single-sided loss. This information will help us make the right recommendations about the hearing aids that can help you most. Our specialists can use their expertise in the range of hearing aids to pair you with the new features and functions that best suit your condition. The first step is to schedule a hearing test, so why not make the call today? We can point you toward the hearing aids that serve your needs and improve your communication ability long into the future.