Abstract
We evaluated the binaural advantage in users of bilateral hearing aids at our clinic. From June 2001 to June 2008, 924 patients visiting our clinic wore hearing aids. Among them, 286 (31%) wore bilateral hearing aids, while the remaining 638 (69%) patients were unilateral hearing aid users. The percentage of individuals wearing bilateral hearing aids was higher among children than among the elderly. In our evaluation of the speech discrimination score (SDS), subjects with moderate hearing loss (51-70dB), severe hearing loss (71-90dB) and profound hearing loss (over 91dB) wearing bilateral hearing aids showed better performance in terms of the rate of recovery than those wearing unilateral hearing aids. In terms of the SDS under the noise (S/N ratio=80/70, +10dB), a better recovery rate (35.2%) was noted in the severe hearing loss group (71-90dB). The difference in the SDS (70dBSPL) between the right-side speaker (SP) and left side SP was smaller in the bilateral hearing aid users (8%) than in the unilateral hearing aid users (13.8%). For subjects with moderate to severe hearing loss, we consider that bilateral hearing aids may offer greater binaural advantage.
