Bilateral hearing loss is a hearing impairment of both ears. A common cause of bilateral hearing loss is aging. Gradual hearing loss due to age is called presbycusis. Besides advanced age, tobacco use and noise exposure are risk factors for presbycusis. In addition to aging, disease, illness, the use of drugs that compromise hearing, and noise exposure are causes of bilateral hearing loss.

The physician is likely to examine the ear when a patient reports hearing loss. The doctor may look into the ear canal and feel the area of and around the ear. The physician will ask questions for a description of the onset of the hearing loss. How the hearing loss started may provide clues as to the cause and type of hearing loss.

To check for the presence and degree of bilateral hearing impairment, the physician may conduct hearing tests. The whisper test is one example of a hearing test used by doctors. During a whisper test, the physician will whisper a series of numbers or words behind the patient’s back and ask the patient to repeat what was said.

Audiometry testing is a hearing test that uses an electronic device that emits sounds at various volumes and frequencies. The patient signifies when they hear the sound from the device. The physician may also use a tuning fork to check for hearing loss. If hearing loss is found, the physician may refer the patient to a specialist for an evaluation and recommendations for treatment.

Typical treatment for bilateral hearing loss is the prescribed use of two hearing aids. People may think they can just use one hearing aid and rely on one ear, but using hearing aids in both ears provides a more natural sense of hearing and puts less strain on either ear.

An audiologist is a specialist that may prescribe the use of a hearing aid and help the patient select the best hearing aid for their hearing loss. With the help of an audiologist, the patient can select either digital or analog hearing aids. Hearing aids also differ by how they fit on the ear. Some hearing aids fit partially or completely into the ear canal while others are worn on the ear.