The following is the sum up of a survey undertaken by Sergei Kochkin several years ago. I have posted on it before but I thought it was ultra important to do so again, particularly now that Widex has introduced interear functions in the Clear hearing instrument platform. In order to get the very best from the hearing instruments you really need to wear two.
The interear features already have been described as giving the most natural sound and as more and more of our famous research and innovation is brought to bear on the processor and data exchange services the instruments will become even better and the underlying reason to wear binaural hearing instruments will be stronger.
So I would like to add two more reasons, although they are really just relevant if you are wearing Widex Clear hearing instruments,
Widex 1. Preserving Interaural level difference
Interaural level is important for preserving localisation
Widex 2. Preserving temporal cues
Again, this is important for preserving localisation.
Localisation is key for ability to tell the direction of a sound, it also allows you to build up a sound picture which will also assist you further with the understanding of speech in noise. Here are the other fifteen reasons.
1. Better understanding of speech
By wearing two hearing instruments rather than one, selective listening is more easily achieved. This means your brain can focus on the conversation you want to hear. Research shows that people wearing two hearing aids routinely understand speech and conversation significantly better than people wearing one hearing aid.
2. Better understanding in group & even noisy situations
Speech intelligibility is improved in difficult listening situations when wearing two hearing aids. However, advanced binaural technology tends to perform better in noise than the older (linear) technology.
3. Better ability to tell the direction of sound
This is called localization. In a social gathering, for example, localization allows you to hear from which direction someone is speaking to you. Also, localization helps you determine from which direction traffic is coming or where your children or grandchildren are playing. Simply put, with binaural hearing, you will better detect where sounds are coming from in every situation.
4. Better sound quality
When you listen to a stereo system, you use both speakers to get the smoothest, sharpest, and most natural sound quality. The same can be said of hearing instruments. By wearing two hearing instruments, you increase your hearing range from 180 degrees reception, with just one instrument, to 360 degrees. This greater range provides a better sense of balance and sound quality.
5. Smoother tone quality
Wearing two hearing instruments generally requires less volume than one. This results in less distortion and better reproduction of amplified sounds.
6. Wider hearing range
It's true. A person can hear sounds from a further distance with two ears, rather than just one. A voice that's barely heard at 10 feet with one ear can be heard up to 40 feet with two ears.
7. Better sound identification
Often, with just one hearing instrument, many noises and words sound alike. But with two hearing instruments, as with two ears, sounds are more easily distinguishable.
8. Keeps both ears active resulting in less hearing loss deterioration
Research has shown that when only one hearing instrument is worn, the unaided ear tends to lose its ability to hear and understand. This is clinically called the auditory deprivation effect. Those wearing two hearing instruments keep both ears active. In fact, wearing one hearing aid when two are required might result in greater deterioration of hearing loss in the unaided ear than when wearing no hearing aid at all.
9. Hearing is less tiring and listening more pleasant
More binaural hearing aid wearers report that listening and participating in conversation is more enjoyable with two instruments, instead of just one. This is because they do not have to strain to hear with the better ear. Thus, binaural hearing can help make life more relaxing.
10. Feeling of balanced hearing
Two-eared hearing results in a feeling of balanced reception of sound, also known as the stereo effect.
Whereas monaural hearing creates an unusual feeling of sounds being heard in one ear.
11. Greater comfort when loud noises occur
A lower volume control setting is required with each of two hearing instruments than with just one hearing instrument, resulting in better tolerance of loud sounds.
12. Reduced feedback and whistling
With a lower volume control setting the chances of hearing aid feedback is reduced.
13. Tinnitus Masking
About 50% of people with ringing in their ears report improvement when wearing hearing aids. If the
subject has a hearing aid in only one ear, there will still be ringing in the ear, which does not have a hearing aid present.
14. Consumer preference
When given the choice and allowed to hear binaurally, the overwhelming majority of consumers choose two hearing aids over one, when they have a hearing loss in both ears.
15. Customer satisfaction
Research with more than 5,000 consumers with hearing loss in both ears demonstrated that binaurally fit subjects are more satisfied than people fit with one hearing aid. Nature gave us two ears for a reason just like it gave us two eyes and limbs. So logically, just as you use both eyes to see clearly, you need two healthy ears to hear clearly. Before you decide on one hearing aid try two. Your hearing health provider can demonstrate to you the binaural advantage experience either through headphones (during testing), probe microphones, master hearing aids, or during your trial fitting. Decide for yourself.
[...] 15 reasons why you should wear two hearing instruments, sort of « Widex Irelands Blog. [...]
ReplyDelete