Cornhusker Hearing Center is very proud to present a special Powerpoint Slide Show titled "Acoustic Trauma" which was produced by Dawn Rosenow Anderson, Ray's daughter.
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Auditory Deprivation . . .
both ears deserve equal rights!

Researchers have observed over the past twenty years that when individuals with a hearing loss in both ears wear a hearing instrument in only one ear, they progressively lose much of their ability to recognize speech in the other ear.

Individuals who were fitted with two instruments did not experience this loss, known as auditory deprivation.

Although this phenomenon has been widely observed, it is not fully understood why it occurs. It may be a physical deterioration, a psychological condition, or a combination of both. Studies have shown that the same loss of speech recognition occurs in children, as well as adults. As a result: binaural [both ears] amplification may well be crucial to the proper development of speech and language skills in children who experience hearing loss in both ears.

The Good News ... Fortunately, research has shown that it may be possible to reverse some of this speech recognition loss by wearing a second hearing instrument. Studies carried out over the past decade seem to indicate that it is never too late to benefit from binaural amplification. Documented cases have shown that the use of two hearing instruments has helped victims of auditory deprivation to recover much of their speech recognition.

Future research is focusing on how auditory deprivation may affect other aspects of hearing ability, and whether binaural amplification can counteract these effects as well.

Hearing Health - Nov. & Dec. 1996

Why 2?

One of the most commonly asked questions received by the Hearing Help Line staff is, "Why do I need two hearing instruments - do you think it will really help?" . . . The answer is an overwhelming "Yes. It really does help!"

• Safety... When a person hears with only one ear, the difficulty in locating sound can be dangerous, especially in traffic.
• Improved Understanding... Binaural [both ears] hearing helps you sort out and understand individual voices.
• Wider Hearing Range... A voice barely heard at 10 feet with one ear can be heard up to 40 feet away with two ears.
• Restful Listening... Listening with only one ear is physically tiring and stressful.
• Cushions Loud Sounds... Sudden loud sounds are easier to tolerate when divided between two ears.
• Better Sound Identification... Sounds. can be more easily identified and understood when heard with two ears.
• Smoother Tone Quality... Binaural hearing generally requires less volume, giving a more natural sound to voices and music.
• Hearing With Less Power... Hear more quietly with less background influence.
• Hearing From Both Sides... As nature intended, hearing with two ears allows you to enjoy a more normal lifestyle.

Information courtesy of HIS/IHS
Hearing Instrument Specialist, International Hearing Society