Hearing With Two Ears

Why do we need to hear with both ears?

We are given two ears for a good reason. Hearing with both ears (Binaural hearing) allows us to locate all types of sounds and to determine the meaning of sounds from our daily lives. Besides, it also enables us to understand speech effectively in both quiet and noisy conditions. Hearing with two ears helps us to respond to sounds more accurately and confidently, and this gives us a sense of balance and direction.

In humans, the auditory system has complicated mechanisms that process sound information. Information arriving from both ears is combined and is forwarded to the central auditory system for further interpretation.

Hearing with two ears allows the brain to receive twice as much input at any given time – there is a summative effect. Hearing via one ear alone requires a great deal more concentration and is tiring for the listener. Whereas, hearing via two ears greatly reduces this burden.

Our two ears pick up acoustic signals from multiple directions. These signals are processed and passed on to the brain where they are interpreted, and we can make sense of them. The timing and intensity of sound reaching each ear is slightly different unless the sole source of sound is directly in front of behind the listener. The brain uses the time differences in these signals to determine the direction from which a sound is coming. The ability to localize sounds from the left or right is very important in many situations, such as identifying where traffic is coming from.

For example, when crossing a road and a car is approaching, your ear nearest the car will receive sounds milliseconds earlier than the other and a little louder. With the reception of sounds from each ear, the brain is able to gauge the direction of the car and approximately how close it is.

In conclusion, binaural hearing can offer a combination of benefits and is essential in everyone’s daily lives.