![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nwearinstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/iStock-547041904-e1583432227419-1280x518.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTwo Ears Means More Brainpower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sounds collected by your left ear are initially processed by the right side of the brain, while sounds collected by your right ear are initially processed by the left side of the brain. After they are received, the two halves of your brain work together to organize the signals into recognizable words and sounds. Using both sides of the brain significantly improves the ability to decipher speech and what\u2019s known as \u201cselective listening\u201d ability \u2014 the ability to pay attention to the sound or voice you really want to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two Ears Hear Better in Noise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, using more of your brain to focus on the sound you want to hear is tremendously important in overcoming one of the primary complaints of individuals with hearing loss: hearing among background noise. Also, a person wearing two hearing aids generally needs less amplification than someone wearing only one. Lower volume means less potential for sound distortion and feedback, which leads to higher-quality reproduction of sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Profound Unilateral Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In less common cases in which there is a total hearing loss in one ear (also known as profound unilateral hearing loss or single-sided deafness), there are medical therapies that may help to re-create some of the effects of binaural hearing. These include bone-conduction systems (also known as bone-anchored hearing aids, or BAHA devices) that can help transmit vibrations from the non-hearing ear to the functioning ear. Also, CROS (contralateral routing of sound) hearing aids are available that use a microphone in the non-hearing ear to transmit the sound to the hearing hear.<\/p>\n\n\n