When one ear hears much better than the other, conversations can feel lopsided. You might hear someone talking, but not know where the voice came from. You might do fine when people sit on your “good side,” then miss half the conversation if they move to the other side.
CROS hearing aids are designed for this exact problem. They don’t restore hearing, but they can help by routing sound from your poorer-hearing ear to your better-hearing ear. That can make daily listening feel less frustrating and more balanced.
What are CROS hearing aids?
CROS stands for Contralateral Routing of Signal. That means sound is picked up on one side of your head and sent to the other side.
A CROS hearing aid system is usually recommended for people with single-sided deafness or unaidable hearing loss in one ear. “Unaidable” means the poorer-hearing ear can’t get enough useful speech understanding from a traditional hearing aid, even with amplification.
A CROS system typically includes:
- A small transmitter worn on the ear that has little or no usable hearing
- A hearing aid or receiver worn on the better-hearing ear
- Wireless technology that sends sound from the poorer-hearing side to the better-hearing side
The goal isn’t to make the ear with little or no usable hearing hear normally. The goal is to route sound from the poor-hearing side to the ear that can process it more clearly, so you’re more aware of voices and sounds from both sides.
How do CROS hearing aids work?
With a CROS system, the device on your poorer-hearing ear picks up sound from that side and sends it (wirelessly) to the device on your better-hearing ear.
For example, if you have very poor hearing in your left ear and stronger hearing in your right ear, the left-side device picks up voices and sounds from the left side and sends them to your right ear. This helps you catch more of what’s happening in your environment.
CROS hearing aids can help in situations like:
- Someone speaking from your poorer-hearing side
- Riding in a car when the passenger or driver is on your difficult side
- Group conversations where people are seated around you
- Walking with another person outdoors
- Meetings, meals, and social events where you can’t always choose where you sit
CROS hearing aids are especially helpful for reducing the “head shadow effect.” That happens when your head physically blocks sound from reaching your stronger-hearing ear. This is especially common with sharper speech sounds, like consonants, which are easier to miss.
CROS vs. BiCROS hearing aids: What’s the difference?
CROS and BiCROS systems work in a similar way, but they’re used for different hearing needs.
CROS hearing aids
A CROS system is used when one ear has little or no usable hearing, and the other ear has normal or near-normal hearing.
The device worn on the ear with little or no usable hearing picks up sound from that side and sends it to the stronger-hearing ear. This helps you hear more from both sides, even though one ear is doing most of the listening.
BiCROS hearing aids
A BiCROS system is used when one ear has little or no usable hearing, and the stronger-hearing ear also has hearing loss that needs amplification.
In a BiCROS setup, sound from the side with little or no usable hearing is sent to the stronger-hearing ear. The difference is that the hearing aid on the stronger-hearing ear also amplifies sound.
In other words: CROS routes sound to an ear that hears well. BiCROS routes sound to an ear that also needs hearing help.
Your hearing test and speech understanding scores will help your audiologist determine which option makes more sense.
Are CROS hearing aids effective?
CROS hearing aids can be very effective for the right type of hearing loss, but they aren’t magic. They help solve some problems better than others.
CROS hearing aids often work best for people who:
- Have one ear with little or no usable speech understanding
- Have normal, near-normal, or aidable hearing in the better ear
- Struggle when people speak from the poorer-hearing side
- Want better awareness of sounds around them
- Are willing to go through a fitting and adjustment period
- Have realistic expectations about what the technology can and can’t do
CROS hearing aids may be less satisfying for people who expect the poorer-hearing ear to hear normally again. A CROS system doesn’t restore two-sided natural hearing. It sends sound to the ear that can use it.
CROS hearing aids may also be less helpful if your main challenge is locating exactly where sound is coming from. Because both sides’ sound is being heard through one better-hearing ear, localization can still be difficult.
Benefits of CROS hearing aids
The main benefit of CROS hearing aids is that they help you catch sounds coming from the side where hearing is very limited.
That can make everyday listening easier by giving you:
- Better awareness of voices and sounds on the poorer-hearing side
- Less need to constantly turn your head or reposition yourself
- Easier conversations in certain one-on-one and group settings
- More flexibility with seating in restaurants, meetings, and family gatherings
- A non-surgical option for managing single-sided hearing challenges
- A more balanced listening experience for some people with unilateral hearing loss
For many people who benefit from CROS hearing aids, the benefits are very practical. You may still need smart listening strategies, but you aren’t working as hard to favor your better-hearing side all day.
Limitations of CROS hearing aids
CROS hearing aids are helpful, but they also have limitations and do not:
- Restore hearing in the poorer ear
- Cure single-sided deafness
- Fully restore natural sound direction
- Eliminate all difficulty in background noise
- Work equally well for every type of hearing loss
- Replace the need for a diagnostic hearing evaluation
CROS hearing aids are a tool that can help your better ear access sound it would otherwise miss. But background noise can still be challenging. If noise is coming from the poorer-hearing side, the CROS transmitter may send that noise to the better ear too. Your audiologist can help fine-tune settings, but it’s important to understand that no hearing aid makes noisy places effortless.
How much do CROS hearing aids cost?
CROS hearing aid costs vary based on the brand, technology level, style, features, included service, warranty, and whether you need a CROS or BiCROS setup.
A BiCROS system may cost more than a CROS system because the better-hearing ear also needs sound amplification programmed to your hearing loss.
The best way to know the cost is to contact the team at Prescription Hearing so we can help you understand current options, pricing, payment options, and what’s included with your hearing aid purchase.
Are CROS hearing aids covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage for CROS hearing aids depends on your specific plan. Many plans don’t include any hearing aid coverage, though some plans may offer hearing aid benefits, partial reimbursement, or discounts.
Because coverage can vary so much, it’s worth checking whether:
- Your plan includes hearing aid benefits
- CROS or BiCROS systems are covered
- There’s a dollar limit or frequency limit
- You need prior authorization
- You can use out-of-network benefits
If cost or coverage is one of your biggest concerns, reach out to our team before ruling anything out. We’re happy to verify your insurance coverage and explain financing options you may be eligible for.
What are the best CROS hearing aids?
The “best” CROS hearing aid is the one that fits your hearing loss, better-hearing ear, daily listening needs, comfort preferences, technology expectations, and budget.
That said, people searching for the best CROS hearing aids usually want to compare leading brands and the latest technology. Prescription Hearing carries advanced hearing aid models from trusted brands including Phonak, Signia, and ReSound.
Phonak CROS hearing aids
Phonak offers CROS technology for people with unilateral hearing loss and CROS/BiCROS needs.
We carry the Phonak Audéo Infinio (which supports CROS and BiCROS) and the Phonak Infinio Sphere (which does not).
Signia CROS hearing aids
Signia offers CROS solutions for single-sided hearing loss, including options in its IX platform.
We carry the Signia BCT-IX, which supports both CROS and BiCROS.
ReSound CROS hearing aids
ReSound also offers CROS/BiCROS hearing aid solutions on current platforms.
We carry the ReSound Vivia, which supports both CROS and BiCROS.
How to know if CROS hearing aids might be right for you
You may be a good candidate for CROS or BiCROS hearing aids if you notice a pattern like this:
- One ear hears much worse than the other
- You often ask people to move to your better side
- You miss speech when someone talks from your “bad” side
- You have trouble following conversations in cars, restaurants, meetings, or family gatherings
- A traditional hearing aid hasn’t helped your poorer-hearing ear enough
- Your stronger-hearing ear hears normally, or can be helped with amplification
A hearing test is the starting point. Your audiologist will look at more than how loud sounds need to be before you hear them. Speech understanding is especially important. If the poorer-hearing ear can’t understand speech clearly even when sound is made louder, routing sound to the better ear can be more helpful.
When to schedule a hearing evaluation
Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears should be evaluated promptly by your primary physician or ENT.
If your hearing difference has been gradual or long-standing, a diagnostic hearing evaluation can help you understand whether CROS hearing aids, BiCROS hearing aids, or traditional hearing aids would be the best fit.
Prescription Hearing can help you take the next step online or in person. You can schedule an in-person evaluation at our hearing center in Palos Park, take a free online hearing test, or send us your existing hearing evaluation so our audiologist can provide you with personalized guidance.
The bottom line on CROS hearing aids
CROS hearing aids can be a great option for people with single-sided hearing loss, or one ear that can’t use amplified sound well. They work by sending sound from the poorer-hearing side to the better-hearing ear, helping you catch more of what’s happening around you.
CROS systems aren’t perfect, and they don’t restore bilateral hearing. But they can make conversations and everyday listening feel more manageable.
If you’re wondering whether CROS or BiCROS hearing aids are right for you, Prescription Hearing can help you compare options from quality brands and decide what fits your hearing, lifestyle, and budget.
CROS hearing aid FAQ
What does CROS mean in hearing aids?
CROS stands for Contralateral Routing of Signal. It means sound from the poorer-hearing ear is routed to the better-hearing ear.
Are CROS hearing aids good for single-sided deafness?
CROS hearing aids can be a helpful option for some people with single-sided deafness, especially when the poorer-hearing ear can’t benefit enough from a traditional hearing aid. A hearing evaluation can help determine whether they’re appropriate.
Do CROS hearing aids restore hearing in the deaf ear?
No. CROS hearing aids don’t restore hearing in the poorer-hearing ear. They pick up sound from that side and send it to the better-hearing ear.
Can I buy CROS hearing aids online?
Yes. Prescription Hearing sells CROS hearing aids online, programmed based on your hearing test results. We offer both online and in-person care, including the option to upload a hearing evaluation and receive expert support remotely. All adjustments and modifications can be done remotely by our audiologist through your smartphone, as if you were meeting in person.
Are Phonak, Signia, and ReSound CROS hearing aids basically the same?
No. Each hearing aid model has different features and compatibility requirements. The right choice depends on your hearing test, your better-hearing ear, your most frequent listening environments, and the specific model pairing.
How do I find out if I need CROS hearing aids?
Start with a hearing evaluation. If you already have recent hearing test results, you can upload them to Prescription Hearing for review. If you are near Palos Park or the Chicago area, you can also schedule an in-person diagnostic evaluation.
