Single-sided deafness
CROS Hearing Aids &
BiCROS Hearing Aids
CROS and BiCROS Hearing Aids
Proven Clinical Solutions for Single-Sided Deafness
Living with complete hearing loss in one ear brings unique everyday listening hurdles. A wireless CROS hearing aid or BiCROS hearing aid system transmits sound seamlessly from your unaidable ear over to your better hearing ear, helping you remain fully engaged in conversations from every direction.
What is a CROS, BiCROS & Bone Conduction Hearing Aid?
For individuals experiencing profound single-sided deafness, traditional acoustic hearing aids cannot simply amplify sound into the unaidable ear. Instead, specialised clinical solutions redirect sound over to your functional ear—either wirelessly through CROS and BiCROS instruments, or mechanically through bone conduction hearing devices.
CROS Hearing Aids
For individuals with one unaidable dead ear and one normal hearing ear. A discreet transmitter microphone captures sound originating on the deaf side and routes it wirelessly across the head to an open-fit receiver in your good ear.
BiCROS Hearing Aids
For individuals with one unaidable dead ear and aidable hearing loss in the better ear. The system transmits sound across from the deaf side, while the receiving instrument actively amplifies both sides to correct your existing hearing loss.
How Does CROS Compare to Bone Conduction Hearing Aids?
Both systems offer viable management paths for single-sided deafness, but they utilize distinct transmission mechanisms:
- Bone Conduction Hearing Aids (BAHA): Deliver sound vibrations directly through the bones of the skull to stimulate the functioning inner cochlea. However, they frequently necessitate surgical titanium abutments, magnetic implants, or tight pressure headbands.
- Wireless CROS & BiCROS Hearing Aids: 100% non-surgical, ergonomic, and cosmetically discreet. Sound is transmitted digitally and instantaneously over high-speed wireless radio to a comfortable receiver placed neatly in the ear canal.
Please Watch the Videos
Video by Hearing Tracker Talking About CROS Hearing Aids (models now superseded)
Phonak Video Discussing the Technology Behind CROS Hearing Aids (models now superseded)
Acoustic Challenges of Single-Sided Deafness
When an ear loses all functional audibility, the brain must adapt from stereo sound processing to monaural listening. Patients dealing with single-sided deafness typically experience three major challenges every day:
Loss of Localising Sound Direction
Determining sound origin relies on minute timing and loudness differences between both ears. Relying entirely on one ear makes it difficult to pinpoint where vehicles, calls, or alerts originate.
Understanding Speech in Noise
The human auditory cortex effortlessly filters background clamour when processing stereo signals. Without binaural balance, conversations in bustling restaurants or social gatherings feel exhausting.
The Head Shadow Effect
High-frequency consonants cannot bend around the density of the human head. Speech originating on the unaidable side loses up to 15 decibels of clarity, forcing continuous head turning.
Expectations Versus Results
At Crystal Hearing, we believe in complete clinical transparency. Understanding what a wireless CROS device can and cannot achieve ensures realistic expectations and successful long-term outcomes.
Restores Deaf-Side Awareness
- Eliminates the blind spot: Lets you hear people speaking directly from your deaf side without straining or contorting your neck.
- Effortless travel: Greatly assists in the car, on footpaths, or when seated around dinner tables with companions on either side.
- Reduces head turning: Captures critical speech frequencies and routes them instantly across to your functional ear.
Enhances Spatial Awareness
- Combines acoustic & visual cues: Knowing what you see alongside what you hear helps the brain determine sound origin over time.
- Distinct sound profiling: Experienced wearers learn to distinguish the tonal quality of streamed audio versus natural direct sound.
- Individual variation: Acclimatisation varies from person to person, often improving significantly over several weeks of daily wear.
Cannot Restore True Binaural Summation
- No physical ear restoration: A CROS does not repair damaged nerve cells or restore organic hearing inside your dead ear.
- No binaural loudness summation: True natural hearing requires two operating cochleas to eliminate speech-in-noise clutter.
- Limited background noise cancellation: While it provides access to sounds from both sides, it does not match true bilateral stereo clarity in roar noise.
Rechargeable CROS Systems
Historically, wireless CROS devices consumed disposable zinc-air button batteries rapidly because the transmitter streams audio continuously across the head. Modern rechargeable CROS hearing aids have resolved this challenge entirely.
Utilising advanced lithium-ion cells from leading global manufacturers such as Starkey, Phonak, Signia, and Oticon, wearers now enjoy dependable, seamless power from morning until night:
- Exceptional battery longevity: Advanced systems from Starkey deliver up to 29 hours of continuous streaming runtime, comfortably lasting full active days.
- Phonak Audéo & Lumity CROS: Proven wireless transmission technology from Phonak keeps conversations crystal clear across busy group environments.
- Fast desktop & portable cases: Compact magnetic charging cases recharge devices in 3 hours, offering rapid top-ups on the go without fiddly battery doors.
Is There an Invisible CROS Hearing Aid?
Yes! For individuals seeking maximum discretion, the revolutionary Signia Silk Charge&Go IX offers the world’s first completely-in-canal (CIC) rechargeable CROS hearing aid system.
Unlike standard receiver-in-canal (RIC) designs that sit neatly behind the ear, the Silk IX rests deep inside the ear canal where it remains virtually undetectable to onlookers:
- Instant-fit silicone Click Sleeves: Soft, breathable sleeves fit comfortably in most ear anatomies without the need for bespoke silicone ear impressions.
- Integrated Xperience (IX) sound engine: Real-time processing balances conversational clarity while preserving subtle environmental awareness.
- Pocket-sized charging case: Convenient Qi wireless inductive charging case holds up to four full recharges while out and about.
- Full smartphone app control: Effortlessly adjust volume and sound balance directly from your iPhone or Android device.
Choosing the Best CROS Hearing Aid
Because Crystal Hearing is completely independent, we are not tied to any single hearing aid manufacturer. Our senior audiologists select from Phonak, Signia, Oticon, ReSound, Starkey, and Widex to find the ideal solution tailored to your audiogram and lifestyle.
When evaluating the optimal CROS hearing aid for single-sided deafness, we guide you through four vital clinical considerations:
- Acoustic sound response: Different hearing aid chips present amplified speech in distinct manners. We test which sound character delivers the highest speech clarity for your good ear.
- Form factor & comfort: Choose between miniature receiver-in-canal (RIC) styles, custom ear moulds, or invisible in-the-canal (CIC) instant-fit solutions.
- Smartphone connectivity & streaming: Determine whether you require direct hands-free audio streaming, Apple iOS or Android compatibility, and bespoke app fine-tuning.
- Battery autonomy & lifestyle: Ensure your daily wearing habits match the rechargeable runtime or battery profile of your chosen manufacturer.
60-Day Money Back Guarantee
Experience your new CROS or BiCROS system in your everyday environments with complete peace of mind. Every hearing aid fitting includes comprehensive audiometric assessment, precision real-ear measurements, and unlimited aftercare from John Lloyd, Peter Goldsworthy, and Sally Stacey.
Understanding CROS Hearing Aids
The best CROS hearing aid ultimately depends on four things:
- Which amplified sound response works best for you?
- What set up offers the right level of control – including mobile phone App control?
- What style of hearing aid you want to wear?
- Do the rechargeable batteries (if applicable) last all day?
Being wholly independent we can choose from each leading supplier to provide the best solution.
- Do you want compatibility with iPhone or Android?
Do you want behind-ear or in-ear?
How discreet do you want it to look?
Do you want rechargeable? – Starkey have the longest lasting rechargeable batteries; some brands may not get you through a day.
We will advise on a range of CROS hearing aids.
Battery life can be poorer with CROS hearing aids as they are continuously streaming to the hearing aid, so this should also be a consideration – rechargeable CROS hearing aids are now an option, but will they give you a full day of use? – especially with audio streaming (phone-calls & TV), and allowing for degradation of the battery over a few years. Starkey now claim to offer 29 hours of battery use on a single CROS charge – these could be the best option if you are looking for rechargeable CROS hearing aids.
We can help you choose through the latest brands and models available
One key dual feature that you will likely benefit from is CROS balance AND CROS volume control.
- CROS balance allows you to swing the focus of sound to either side – your good ear, or your dead ear.
- CROS volume control allows you to raise and lower both sides in sync.
Also, you require programme control or phone app control – so that you can turn the CROS off when not needed, to save battery drain, and so as not to introduce sounds from the deaf ear when you are solely focused on your good side (maybe when driving).
Guide to Buying Hearing Aids
