Bilateral Hearing Aids

Bilateral hearing aids refers to wearing a hearing aid in each ear when hearing loss is present in both ears. Fitting both ears, as opposed to fitting only one (monaural fitting), is called a bilateral fitting. Most audiologists recommend bilateral hearing aids when both ears have measurable hearing loss and both can benefit from amplification.

The advantages of bilateral fitting over monaural fitting are well established. Wearing two aids restores a degree of binaural hearing, which improves the brain's ability to locate sounds, follow speech in noisy environments, and reduce listening effort in complex situations. Binaural processing relies on the brain comparing the timing and loudness of sounds arriving at each ear. When only one ear is aided, this comparison is compromised.

In Ontario, the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) provides a per-device subsidy that applies separately to each hearing aid in a bilateral fitting, meaning eligible residents can receive ADP funding for both devices. The audiologist assesses bilateral candidacy as part of the fitting process and documents the recommendation based on the audiological findings from each ear.