Auditory Deprivation

Each ear sends different signals to the brain, the two halves of your brain work in harmony to give an auditory image. The ears' sound signals travel up the brain stem via complicated pathways. Some cross over and eventually stimulate the other side of the brain, while others stimulate the same side. These very complex patterns of stimulation make up auditory intelligence (see schematic diagram below).
 

Pathways when sound enters both ears equally

Pathways when sound enters only one ear

If the two halves are not sharing their signals i.e. in the case of one ear being aided and the other not, then the brain gradually loses some of its processing ability due to a lack of stimulation, as a result auditory deprivation may then occur. It is similar to an unused muscle; the unused auditory fibres may atrophy (waste away).