SARTHAK HEARING CARE BLOG
Told a Regular Hearing Aid Won't Help Your Deaf Ear? Understanding CROS and BiCROS Hearing Aids
If one ear has little or no usable hearing — whether from birth, surgery, or a sudden illness — you may have already been told that a regular hearing aid in that ear will not help much. This does not mean nothing can be done. Devices called CROS and BiCROS systems are built specifically for this situation.
What Does CROS Actually Mean?
CROS stands for Contralateral Routing of Signal. In simple terms, a small microphone worn on the non-hearing ear picks up sound from that side and sends it wirelessly to a device worn on the better-hearing ear, which has normal hearing. This lets sound from your 'deaf side' reach you through the ear that can actually use it.
How Is BiCROS Different From CROS?
BiCROS works on the same principle, but is used when the better ear also has some hearing loss of its own. In that case, the device on the better ear both amplifies sound for that ear and relays sound picked up from the non-hearing side — doing two jobs at once.
Who Might Consider This Option?
CROS and BiCROS systems are generally considered for adults who have been told a conventional hearing aid will not meaningfully help their non-hearing ear — for example, after sudden profound hearing loss in one ear, certain ear surgeries, or long-standing single-sided deafness. Whether it is the right fit depends on your specific hearing profile.
What a CROS/BiCROS Discussion Involves
At Sarthak Hearing Care, Dr. Murli Singh can assess your hearing on both sides and talk through whether a CROS or BiCROS system is a reasonable option for your situation, including what a trial would involve before any decision is made. Specific pricing and device options are discussed individually and are not stated generally here.
Book an Assessment
If you have been told a standard hearing aid won't help your non-hearing ear, it is still worth discussing CROS/BiCROS options with an audiologist near me at Sarthak Hearing Care. Call: 9625554548 / 9891242568
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ANSWERS FOR PATIENTS & FAMILIES
Told a Regular Hearing Aid Won't Help Your Deaf Ear? Understanding CROS and BiCROS Hearing Aids FAQs
Will a CROS hearing aid restore hearing in my deaf ear?
No. A CROS system does not restore hearing in the non-hearing ear — it routes sound from that side to your better ear, which does the actual hearing.
Is BiCROS the same as a regular hearing aid?
Not quite. A BiCROS device amplifies sound for the better ear like a hearing aid, but also relays sound from the non-hearing side, combining both functions.
How do I know if CROS or BiCROS suits me?
This depends on your specific hearing levels in both ears. A hearing assessment with our clinical team is the starting point for finding out.