Ask an Expert: Are CROS Conduction Hearing Aids Right for Single-Sided Deafness?
Q: What Is Single-Sided Deafness?
Sabrina Raineri: Single-sided deafness (often called SSD) happens when one ear hears normally or close to normal, but the other ear has very little or no usable hearing. This can make it difficult to tell where sounds are coming from or to hear someone speaking, especially in noisy places like restaurants.
We naturally use both ears to make sense of which direction sounds are coming from. When we have hearing in only one ear, a “head shadow effect”1 occurs, meaning the head blocks certain speech sounds from reaching the better ear.
SSD can be caused by a variety of factors, such as sudden changes in hearing health, viral infections, head trauma, or even a condition affecting the auditory nerve2. When the hearing in one ear changes, the brain no longer receives sound equally from both sides, creating an imbalance that can influence everyday communication, safety, and quality of life.
The CROS system reduces the impact of this by giving you access to sound from both sides, making communication feel easier and more balanced.
Find your nearest hearing center.
Q: What Are CROS Hearing Aids and How Do They Work?
The system includes two small devices:
1. Microphone
The microphone is worn on the ear with the poorer hearing ability; it picks up sound coming from that side and then sends the sound across, so important sounds aren’t missed.
2. Receiver
The receiver is worn on the other ear. It delivers the routed sound naturally, helping you hear more clearly and feel more balanced in everyday conversations.
Q: Who Is a Good Candidate for CROS Hearing Aids?
- Have normal hearing in one ear and little or no hearing in the other.
- Don’t have active middle ear infections or ongoing balance concerns.
- Want a non-surgical, discreet, and easy-to-use solution.
Q: What Are the Pros and Cons of CROS Hearing Aids?
The benefits
Improved sound quality- Better awareness of where sounds are coming from
- More balanced listening
- Discreet and comfortable modern designs
- Advanced wireless technology
- Better safety and confidence in everyday communication
Possible drawbacks
It may take time for your brain to adjust to the new listening experience- Slightly shorter battery life because of wireless connectivity
- It doesn’t restore true two-ear hearing
- It may be difficult to tell the direction that background noise is coming from in some environments. Your hearing care professional can suggest strategies to manage this
Q: What’s the Difference Between CROS and BiCROS Hearing Aids?
Sabrina Raineri: The difference depends on your better-hearing ear.
CROS hearing aids are used when one ear hears well, and the other has no hearing.
BiCROS hearing aids are used when there is no hearing in one ear and some hearing loss in the other. A BiCROS system combines sound from the deaf side with amplification for the other ear, providing an extra boost for both clarity and balance.
Q: Can CROS Hearing Aids Restore Hearing?
Q: How Do I Know if CROS Hearing Aids Are Right for Me?
Together with your hearing care provider, you can decide whether a CROS or BiCROS system option best suits your hearing and lifestyle needs.
Q: Why Not Rely on One Ear Only?
Make the First Step Towards Better Hearing
1 Otology & Neurotology: A comparison between wireless CROS and bone-anchored hearing devices for single-sided deafness: a pilot study (June 2015): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25853611/
2 Acta Oto-Laryngologica: Etiology of single-sided deafness and asymmetrical hearing loss (April 2017): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28366032/
3 European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology: Clinical effectiveness of wireless CROS (contralateral routing of offside signals) hearing aids (September 2015): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-014-3133-0
4 Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B Skull Base: Nonsurgical Management of Single-Sided Deafness: Contralateral Routing of Signal (April 2019): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6438788/
