Hearing With Two Ears

Hearing With Two Ears

Hearing with two ears provides our brains with important information to help us hear sounds on both sides, determine the direction of sound, and filter unwanted sounds so we can focus on what matters

When you are assessed for candidacy for a cochlear implant, it may be recommended that both ears could benefit, or that one ear only meets the criteria. Even if both ears are suitable, you will need to choose one ear to be implanted first. Once this ear is hearing well with the implant, the other ear can be considered. In the meantime, continuing to use a hearing aid in the other ear provides valuable additional sound information.

People with implants in both ears often report significant benefits compared to having just one implant, including:

• Reduced listening effort
• Less need to position the speaker on a particular side
• Improved overall sound quality
• Increased confidence
• Easier to hear soft voices
• A “backup” ear if one device is not available
• Better hearing in group settings and meetings
• Improved ability to tell where sound is coming from