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Related Concept Videos

Echo01:06

Echo

The human ear cannot distinguish between two sources of sound if they happen to reach within a specific time interval, typically 0.1 seconds apart. More than this, and they are perceived as separate sources.
Imagine the sound is reflected back to the ears. Assuming that the source is very close to the human, the difference between hearing the two sounds—the emitted sound and the reflected sound—may be more than the minimum time for perceiving distinct sounds. If this is the case, then the...
Anatomy of the Ear01:16

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
Hearing01:31

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
Cerebral Hemispheres01:05

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
Perception of Sound Waves01:01

Perception of Sound Waves

The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...
Sound Waves: Interference00:53

Sound Waves: Interference

Sound waves can be modeled either as longitudinal waves, wherein the molecules of the medium oscillate around an equilibrium position, or as pressure waves. When two identical waves from the same source superimpose on each other, the combination of two crests or two troughs results in amplitude reinforcement known as constructive interference. If two identical waves, that are initially in phase, become out of phase because of different path lengths, the combination of crests with troughs...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Electrically Evoked Stapedius Reflex Measurements in Cochlear Implantation and Its Application in the Postoperative Fitting Process
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Electrically Evoked Stapedius Reflex Measurements in Cochlear Implantation and Its Application in the Postoperative Fitting Process

Published on: June 21, 2024

Are two ears not better than one?

Rachel A McArdle1, Mead Killion, Monica A Mennite

  • 1Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, USA. Rachel.mcardle@va.gov

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|March 23, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Most individuals with hearing loss perform better with two hearing aids. Only 20% of participants showed improved speech recognition in noise with a single hearing aid, suggesting binaural fitting is generally superior.

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Audiology
  • Speech-Language Pathology
  • Hearing Science

Background:

  • The debate on fitting one versus two hearing aids for binaural hearing loss persists.
  • While most hearing aid fittings are binaural, some studies suggest monaural fitting may yield better speech recognition in noise.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the monaural versus binaural hearing aid fitting debate through two new experiments.
  • Experiment 1 replicated previous findings on speech recognition with one versus two hearing aids.
  • Experiment 2 explored the role of binaural cues in improving speech recognition in noise.

Main Methods:

  • A repeated measures experimental design was employed.
  • Twenty veterans with symmetrical, mild-to-moderately severe hearing loss were recruited.
  • Speech-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss was measured using the Quick Speech-in-Noise (QuickSIN) test, and binaural recordings in realistic noise were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Most participants achieved the best speech recognition in noise scores when both ears were aided in Experiment 1.
  • The binaural condition in Experiment 2 also yielded the highest speech recognition performance.
  • Only 20% of subjects demonstrated better performance with a single hearing aid.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that binaural hearing aid fitting is generally more effective for speech recognition in noise.
  • A small percentage of individuals may benefit more from monaural hearing aid use.
  • These results contribute to the ongoing discussion regarding optimal hearing aid fitting strategies.