Our ears are an intricate and complicated environment. Your ear includes three main parts:
- The outer ear
- The middle ear
- The inner ear
Each part of our ears have their own role in allowing us to hear. They work with our brain to process the sounds around us, and translate that into noises and sounds that we can recognize. It is a process that never stops. Even when you are fast asleep, your ears and brain are processing the sounds around you.
Normally, our ears will work together to allow us to hear. What that is, is that despite having two ears, they will transmit sounds to our brain as a single entity. It’s not unusual for one ear to hear things slightly differently than the other ear. This can happen as a result of the environment we’re in, the placement of the suns, and more. Incredibly, our brains can interpret the sounds as originating from one single source.
Confused yet? Let’s break it down further! Think of how your eyes work. Take a moment and focus on a point in front of you. Now close one eye. Can you still see what’s in front of you? Great! Now close your other eye. Has what you’re able to see changed?
Although our eyes are processing visual information individually, what we’re actually seeing is one visual field. (Side note – if you are seeing double, please contact your primary healthcare practitioner).
Our ears work in a similar fashion. However, for some people, sounds are not experienced in the same way. They experience something known as diplacusis.
What is Diplacusis?
Diplacusis is sometimes referred to as “double hearing.” It is a type of hearing loss that results in a two-sound experience.
A 2016 study defined diplacusis as “perceptual anomaly whereby the same sound is perceived as having a different pitch depending on whether it is presented in the left or the right ear.”
With diplacusis, one ear hears sounds differently to the other ear. This results in a two-sound experience. For people with diplacusis, it can be troubling.
What Causes Diplacusis?
Diplacusis has a number of causes. Musicians are commonly more aware of having diplacusis. This could be down to the fact that they are often more sensitive to changes in pitch and tone.
Diplacusis can be caused by damage to the delicate hair cells in our inner ears. Damage can be caused by:
- Noise induced hearing loss
- Ototoxic hearing loss
- Trauma
- Autoimmune disorders
- Age related hearing loss
In some cases, diplacusis can be caused by an obstruction in the ear. This could be from an ear infection, excess earwax, blocked sinuses or a tumor.
How is Diplacusis Treated?
The treatment for diplacusis depends on what has caused it. If an obstruction in your ear is causing diplacusis, removing the obstruction should resolve it. If the diplacusis is the result of hearing loss, hearing aids may be used to help the condition.
The first step to treating diplacusis is speaking to a specialist. The hearing healthcare specialists at Anderson Audiology will be glad to offer you a hearing assessment. Call the team today on 702-997-2964. Alternatively, click here to request an appointment online.