Bilateral Versus Unilateral Hearing Aid Fitting for Individuals with Bilateral Hearing Loss

This study explores whether bilateral hearing aids offer better hearing outcomes for individuals with bilateral hearing loss compared to unilateral hearing aids or no hearing aids. The systematic review includes a critical evaluation of previously published research on this topic, with a focus on studies that compare bilateral versus unilateral fittings and their effects on patients’ auditory performance. Despite the widespread use of bilateral hearing aids, some patients opt for unilateral fittings due to reasons such as cost, self-image, or difficulty managing two devices. This review employs the PICO framework and examines the benefits of binaural hearing, including improved speech recognition and spatial hearing. Through a systematic search of databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, nine relevant studies were selected and analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings suggest that bilateral hearing aids significantly improve hearing outcomes in patients with bilateral hearing loss, particularly in challenging listening environments. However, the evidence also indicates that individual preferences and adaptation challenges contribute to the continued use of unilateral hearing aids in some cases. This study concludes that bilateral fittings generally provide superior auditory outcomes, although further research is needed to explore patient preferences and the long-term benefits of each fitting option. The study contributes to clinical practice by reinforcing the benefits of bilateral hearing aids and encouraging audiologists to consider individual patient needs when making fitting recommendations.