What is Binaural Hearing?
Binaural hearing, according to Binaural Hearing & Speech Lab, "refers to being able to integrate information that the brain receives from the two ears. Binaural hearing is known to help us with the ability to listen in noisy, complex auditory environments and to localize sound sources."
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Conductive Hearing Loss
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There are three categories of hearing loss -- conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss -- all which have the potential to be binaural, or to affect both ears. Conductive hearing loss, according to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, "occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones, or ossicles, of the middle ear." This type of hearing loss can usually be treated medically.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
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This type of hearing loss is permanent because "there is damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear (retrocochlear) to the brain" according to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Causes of this type of hearing loss are aging, viruses, noise exposure, diseases, birth injury and more. Because it is permanent, people with this type of hearing loss usually pursue some type of aid to help improve their hearing ability.
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Binaural Hearing Aids
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Because binaural hearing loss affects both ears, the best treatment is two hearing aids. Better Hearing Institute Advocates for America's Ears describes it by stating that "similar to the way refractory problems in both eyes are treated with a pair of glasses, it makes sense that bilateral hearing loss should be treated with binaural hearing aids". Because sound quality is reduced in both ears, Better Hearing Institute Advocates for America's Ears lists better sound quality, noise identification, sound direction and ability to hear better in noisy places among the benefits of binaural hearing aids versus a single hearing aid.
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References
- Photo Credit ear image by Connfetti from Fotolia.com
