CROS and BiCROS Hearing Aids UK: What are they and how can they help?

CROS Hearing Solution                                     BiCROS Hearing Solution 

CROS Hearing Aids and BiCROS Hearing Aids

Single-sided deafness hearing loss solutions

What is single-sided deafness?

Single-sided deafness means you have one ear that is deaf and one ear with ‘normal’ hearing.  This also applies to those who have one deaf ear and one who has hearing loss which can be improved by wearing a digital hearing aid.  This is also called unilateral hearing loss.

Some individuals can not hear much in one ear to such an extent that a standard hearing aid won't support them. Unfortunately, some people with single-sided deafness live with it by asking people to communicate with them on their good side or their 'good' ear. 

This isn't an ideal solution and means that they will still find it a challenge to hear in noisy environments as well as locate the direction of the sound they hear.

Now there are various successful hearing aid solutions that cater to single-sided deafness such as CROS and BiCROS hearing aids.  We go into more detail about these latest models introduced into the industry further down the page.

How does a CROS hearing aid compare to a generic hearing aid? 

Generic hearing aids direct sound into the ear they are placed on. With a CROS hearing solution, the device on the poor ear side looks like a generic hearing aid, but actually, it is a transmitter and microphone that picks up the sound to direct it to the device on the good side or ear that can hear.

What is a CROS hearing aid and what is a BiCROS hearing aid?

So, what are CROS and BiCROS hearing aids - how do they work?  There are two separate hearing aid solutions for single-sided deafness and these are called CROS hearing aids and BICROS hearing aids.  Here is the breakdown:

BiCROS hearing aids meaning

What is a BiCROS hearing aid?  A BiCROS hearing aid is for people who have one deaf ear and one ear with hearing loss.  The abbreviation stands for Bilateral with Contra-lateral Routing of Signal.

BiCROS (bilateral contralateral routing of signals) hearing aids are a type of hearing device that is used to improve hearing in individuals with asymmetrical hearing loss or single-sided deafness (SSD). Asymmetrical hearing loss refers to a condition where an individual has a significant difference in hearing ability between the two ears.

SSD is a condition in which an individual has normal or near-normal hearing in one ear, but severe to profound hearing loss in the other ear.

BICROS hearing aids are similar to traditional hearing aids in that they are worn in both ears. However, the hearing aid in the poorer hearing ear is equipped with a microphone that picks up sounds from that ear and transmits them wirelessly to the hearing aid in the better-hearing ear.

This allows the individual to hear sounds from both ears, even if one ear is not functioning properly.

CROS hearing aids meaning

What is a CROS hearing aid?  A CROS hearing aid is for people with one deaf ear and one good ear.  The abbreviation stands for Contra-lateral Routing of Signal.

Cross hearing aids, also known as CROS or contralateral routing of signals hearing aids, are devices that are used to improve hearing in individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD) or asymmetrical hearing loss. With SSD, an individual has normal or near-normal hearing in one ear, but severe to profound hearing loss in the other ear.

Asymmetrical hearing loss refers to a condition where an individual has a significant difference in hearing ability between the two ears. 

CROS hearing aids are designed to pick up sounds from the poorer-hearing ear and transmit them wirelessly to a hearing aid in the better-hearing ear. This allows the individual to hear sounds from both sides of their body and improves their ability to locate the source of a sound.

CROS hearing aids can be particularly helpful for individuals who have difficulty hearing in noisy environments, as they allow the individual to hear sounds from both sides of their body, which can improve their ability to focus on a conversation or other important sounds.

They can also be helpful for individuals who have trouble understanding speech when only one ear is functioning properly, as the CROS hearing aid allows them to hear sounds from both ears.

CROS Hearing Aids and BiCROS Hearing Aids

If you are deaf in one ear, what does that mean for you? 

What are your challenges?

For those who are deaf in one ear, there are a few challenges.  For example, following conversations (also known as the Head Shadow Effect) is a challenge because of the different sound frequencies we hear.  For instance, low-frequency sounds are shorter in wavelength (which can go around the head) and high-frequency sounds are shorter (which are blocked by the head). 

Therefore, it makes it extremely difficult for those with a deaf ear to follow the conversation – without having to turn their head.  The direction of sound is also tricky, as having one good ear makes it very hard to know which direction sounds are coming from.

What does a CROS hearing aid do?

So, how do CROS hearing aids work?  In brief, in a CROS system, you wear hearing aids in both ears – even though you can’t hear in one ear.  This means the sound detected by the hearing aid in the bad ear is transmitted straight to the aid in the good ear.  This eliminates the ‘head shadow’ effect.

What does a BiCROS hearing aid do?

So, how do BiCROS hearing aids work?  In short, these work in a similar way to the CROS system apart from they are designed for those who have a hearing loss in their good ear too. 

The hearing aid in your good ear will also be programmed for any amplification you may need by your audiologist.

CROS Hearing Aids and BiCROS Hearing Aids

BiCROS Hearing Aid Manufacturers / CROS Hearing Aid Manufacturers

CROS and BiCROS hearing aid prices

So, what hearing aid manufacturers offer these types of hearing loss solutions?  The short answer here is that most of the main hearing aid brands do have these hearing solutions in their product portfolio.  Usually, both these types of hearing aids start from around £795.

Here are the ones we have available and what we believe to be the best CROS/BiCROS hearing aids on the current market.  Click on the products below to find out more and to view our CROS/BiCROS hearing aid prices.

Getting used to CROS or BiCROS hearing aids takes time

CROS and BiCROS hearing aids, like other hearing aids, take time to adjust and get used to.  As simple as it sounds, you need to wear your CROS hearing aid everyday or as much as possible and not give up when it feels challenging.

Your local audiologist is there for any program adjustments and support when needed, so you benefit from the best hearing experience possible.

NHS CROS hearing aids and BiCROS hearing aids

Can you get CROS or BICROS hearing aids from the NHS?  Yes, you can, however, like other hearing aids the choice and technology will be limited.  You can make an appointment with your local NHS service and be assessed to determine whether a CROS or BICROS hearing aid solution is right for you.

What are the benefits of CROS or BICROS hearing aids?

• You will be able to hear sounds from both sides without having to turn your head.
• You will be less likely to miss a conversation from your poor hearing side.
• You will feel less 'cut off' on your bad hearing side.
• In quiet hearing situations and good room acoustics, this solution should be of benefit.

Conclusion

With CROS and BiCROS hearing aids, there can be some latency (delay) in the transmission of sound from the poorer-hearing ear to the better-hearing ear, which can be jarring for some users. 

But, overall, CROS hearing aids can be a useful tool for individuals with single-sided deafness or asymmetrical hearing loss, allowing them to hear sounds from both sides of their body and improving their ability to locate the source of a sound.

However, it is important for individuals to discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of CROS hearing aids with a hearing healthcare professional before making a decision about whether or not to use them.

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