CROS / BICROS
SOLUTIONS

Single-sided deafness, or unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, refers to significant or total functional hearing loss in one ear. The hearing loss is usually permanent and cannot benefit of traditional sound amplification with hearing aids.

1. Difficulty localizing sounds
SSD makes it hard to determine where sounds are coming from because binaural hearing (hearing with both ears) is essential for sound localization.

2. Reduced speech understanding in noise
In noisy environments, people with SSD struggle to separate speech from background noise since they cannot use binaural cues to focus on the speaker.

3. Head shadow effect
Sounds coming from the non-hearing ear are attenuated by the head before reaching the better-hearing ear, especially high-frequency sounds, leading to reduced audibility.

4. Increased fatigue
Constantly turning the head toward speakers and concentrating harder to understand conversations can cause fatigue and stress.

5. Social and emotional impact
SSD can lead to social withdrawal, frustration, and reduced participation in group conversations, impacting quality of life.

6. Safety concerns
Difficulty localizing sounds can pose safety risks, such as not knowing the direction of approaching vehicles or alarms.

CROS, short for “Contralateral Routing of Signal”, refers to hearing aid accessories designed for individuals with single-sided / unilateral hearing loss. These devices capture sound from the non-hearing ear and wirelessly transmit it to the hearing aid placed on the better-hearing ear, providing awareness of sounds from the impaired side.

BiCROS, short for “Bilateral Contralateral Routing of Signal”, is designed for individuals who have no hearing in one ear and some degree of hearing loss in the other. These systems pick up sound from the non-hearing ear and transmit it to the hearing aid placed on the contralateral side, while also amplifying sounds received on that side for improved overall sound perception.

CROS solutions routs sound from the unaidable ear to the better-hearing ear. When the better ear has normal hearing, no amplification is needed (CROS fitting). If the better ear also has hearing loss, both the routed signal and the input from that ear are amplified in the hearing aid on the better-hearing side, resulting in a BiCROS fitting.

In short, CROS transfers sound only, while in BiCROS fittings sound is transferred and amplified.

CROS solutions help people with single-sided deafness by sending sound from the impaired side to the better-hearing ear, which may improve awareness of voices and environmental sounds. However, they do not restore true binaural hearing, some sounds and conversations may still be difficult to perceive or localize. A CROS solution requires wearing devices on both ears, even when the contralateral side presents normal hearing.

Yes, CROS solutions can be rechargeable.

In the Reach portfolio, all CROS accessories are rechargeable and can pair with hearing aids that are either rechargeable or use standard batteries.

In the BiCore portfolio, we offer both rechargeable and battery-powered CROS solutions.

You can find and try Rexton CROS solutions through authorized hearing care professionals and retail partners that carry the Rexton brand.

These professionals typically offer:

• Hearing assessments to confirm if a CROS solution is suitable for your hearing profile.
• Trial programs that allow you to experience the devices before committing to a purchase.
• Personalized fitting using Rexton’s Connexx software for optimal performance.

To locate a provider near you, contact your local hearing aid clinic that offers Rexton products. Many clinics also provide risk-free trials so you can test the CROS system in real-life situations.

AmpCROS, short for “Amplified Contralateral Routing of Signal”, is a variation of the traditional CROS system designed for individuals with asymmetric hearing loss. Unlike standard CROS, which only transmits sound from the non-hearing ear to the better ear, AmpCROS also provides amplification on the transmitting side.

This fitting approach is compatible with bilateral fittings of hearing aids with XPhone functionality.