More than 50% of people with a hearing loss are affected in both ears.
Studies show that, even when a hearing loss is more severe in one ear, many people with hearing loss can still benefit from the natural sound-gathering ability of both ears.
The benefits of binaural amplification (wearing two hearing instruments) as opposed to wearing just one include:
- A more normal, balanced sound.
- Better overall sound quality.
- Better understanding in group situations.
- A more relaxed listening experience (never having to turn to use the good ear).
- The ability to set volume controls lower, enabling the wearer to hear sound at a softer, more comfortable level.
One of the most important roles binaural amplification can play is to improve the wearer’s ability to identify the source of a particular sound.
The brain uses signals from both ears to determine the direction a sound is coming from. Without the ability to hear properly with both ears, situations such as finding the person who’s calling your name, determining whether someone’s knocking at the front or back door, or crossing the street can be difficult or even dangerous.
