The importance of Binaural Hearing

This is sometimes referred to as Directional Hearing, as this is essentially the way our two ears and brain are able to determine the direction that a sound is originating from.

If the sound is clear enough, you can even get an idea of which direction the sound is moving at times. The feeling can seem so inherent to us that we can sometimes lose sight of the effect that hearing loss can also have on one's sense of direction.

Two components help you locate sounds:

Your brain

The brain processes information coming from the ears, establishes the volume of the sound, determines its distance, and triangulates the source to figure out where the noise is coming.

If we only use one ear instead of two, it becomes a lot more difficult to locate the origin of a sound. When someone experiences hearing loss in both ears, it's equally difficult to locate sounds, since the brain has less information to process. 

Your ear shape

The shape of the outer ear has evolved over time in a way that makes it easier for the inner ear to obtain sounds coming from various locations around you.

Can directional hearing loss be improved?

There are a few hearing aids that offer this capability, but the wearer needs to be using one on each side, even if there is a total hearing loss in just one side.

Your audiologist should always emphasize the importance of wearing two hearing aids at all times. You wouldn't watch a movie with one eye closed, or listen to your favorite song with only one headphone in, using hearing aids is no different.

These devices collect sounds from both sides, filtering sounds and feeding to the good hearing side in a way that helps the wearer determine direction. It also can be a benefit for lower frequency hearing loss.

A good example of how this affects day to day situations is social environments, where multiple speakers talk at different times, moving their heads and changing the direction of the sound. When both ears hear these voices, the brain can determine where the sounds are coming from.

A tidying expert, bestselling author and star of Netflix’s hit show “ Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”, Marie Kondo’s minimalism approach to simplifying and organising your home has taken the world by storm. Made famous for her “KonMari Method”, she takes her followers through a methodical approach of discarding items that no longer spark joy in your life, thanking them for their service, then letting them go. Now’s a better time than ever, to tackle room by room, going through items that you no longer need. Do you really need that Better Homes & Gardening magazine that’s been sitting untouched for the last five years? Didn’t think so!

With the current Coronavirus mantra of washing your hands regularly, you might as well take this time to clean and organise your home. Wipe down the dusty window sills, clean out your linen closet…do a bit of pre-Spring cleaning that will undoubtedly leave you feeling refreshed and satisfied, as you tick off each item. A tidy home is a happy home.

Avid puzzler or a beginner, you can keep your mind active and stimulated by picking up a jigsaw puzzle. Whether you live on your own or with a partner, puzzling is a rewarding activity as you chip away at the board bit by bit. If you’re a beginner, go easy on yourself by starting on a 500-piece and if you’re a novice, tackle a 1,000-piece project that is four times more difficult than a 500-piece. The challenge is yours to decide.

Puzzle-solving is proven to help adults improve their memory, build better problem-solving skills, enhancing mood as well as lowering stress levels. You can choose a puzzle theme that suits your interests or is visually appealing, whether it’s a scenic backdrop of an iconic location or a scene from your favourite movie. You’re never too young or old to puzzle!

A fun and enriching activity that you can do outdoors while basking in the sun rays, gardening is the perfect activity where you can learn new skills or pick up from where you last left off. Depending on what you decide to grow, whether it be a little herb garden or some new florals for your planter box, you’ll reap the rewards of your efforts by having something beautiful to look at whenever you’re outside.

If you don’t have access to an outdoor garden, you can try your hand at planting indoor bulbs such as hyacinth, narcissus and amaryllis bulbs. A sight for sore eyes, these spring bulbs are beautiful additions to your window sills or around your home, where it’s sunny and well-lit.

According to a study carried out by Professor Nina Kraus of neurobiology, physiology and otolaryngology at Northwestern University, Illinois in the Australia, music can help to train the brain and improve hearing. Consisting of 18 musicians and 19 non-musicians between the ages for 45 to 65, the study found that among people with hearing loss, musicians were better at detecting, processing and remembering sounds.

Certain instruments have proven to be better for learners with hearing loss, with piano and guitar being amongst the popular choices. Alongside playing an instrument, singing and dancing can also be combined as a form of music therapy, assisting you to communicate better and preserve your speech listening skills. Plus, we’re here for you throughout your hearing journey.

Make social distancing or self-isolating at home a fun experience
And there you have it, four fun activity ideas you can do from the comfort of your own home, whether it’s by yourself or with a loved one.

We hope you found this list of ideas helpful and if you did, please feel free to share with your family members and friends who may be finding it difficult to stay at home during COVID-19.

For the latest updates on how bloom™ hearing specialists is keeping our valued customers safe and well during these uncertain times, please visit our COVID-19 Coronavirus Update page.