BiCROS Hearing Aids: What They Are and Who They Help

Hearing loss is rarely identical in both ears. In fact, many people find that one ear hears significantly better than the other. When hearing loss is profound or total in one ear and mild to moderate in the other, traditional hearing aids often aren’t enough. This is where BiCROS hearing aids come into play.

BiCROS systems are specially designed for people with hearing loss in both ears, but especially for those whose worse ear cannot benefit from a standard hearing aid. By capturing sound from both sides and transmitting it to the better-hearing ear, these devices provide a fuller, more balanced listening experience.

Key Takeaways

• BiCROS hearing aids are designed for people with hearing loss in both ears when one ear is unaidable.

They wirelessly transmit sound from the bad ear to the better ear, which also gets amplified.

Users report better speech clarity, but may still struggle with sound directionality.

 

What Are BiCROS Hearing Aids?

When hearing loss is uneven, especially when one ear is essentially non-functional, conventional hearing aids aren’t always enough. That’s where BiCROS hearing aids step in.

BiCROS stands for bilateral microphones with contralateral routing of signal. In simpler terms, this means the device uses microphones on both ears, but it routes sound from the ear with no usable hearing to the better-hearing ear. The better ear receives sound from both sides and amplifies it appropriately.

This type of system is often confused with CROS hearing aids, which only route sound from one side without amplification. However, BiCROS goes a step further: it not only sends sound across but also boosts it in the better ear to make hearing more natural and balanced.

 

How Do BiCROS Hearing Aids Work?

To understand how BiCROS systems function, it helps to picture the setup: the user wears a transmitter on the unaidable ear and a full-featured hearing aid on the better ear. These devices communicate wirelessly and work together to recreate a sense of two-sided hearing.

Here’s a closer look at the step-by-step process:

1. A sound enters the microphone on the “bad” ear.

2. That sound is sent wirelessly to the hearing aid on the better ear.

3. The better ear device combines that incoming signal with its own local sound input and amplifies everything based on the user’s hearing profile.

This setup means the user doesn’t miss out on conversations or sounds happening on their deaf side, and they don’t have to constantly turn their head to compensate.

According to Healthy Hearing, this type of system can dramatically improve communication, especially in group settings or noisy environments.

 

Who Should Consider BiCROS Hearing Aids?

BiCROS hearing aids are specifically designed for a unique type of hearing loss profile: one ear has no usable hearing (also called profound or unaidable hearing loss), while the other ear has hearing loss that can still be treated with amplification.

You may be a candidate for BiCROS if:

• You can’t understand speech in one ear, even with a hearing aid

• You frequently have to turn your “good ear” toward sound to hear clearly

• You struggle to hear in conversations where people speak from your worse side

This type of asymmetrical hearing loss can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

• Acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that disrupts hearing in one ear

• Ménière’s disease, which causes fluid buildup and progressive hearing loss

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which can strike without warning

• Viral infections, head trauma, or poor blood supply to the auditory nerve

 

Getting an accurate diagnosis is key. A hearing test and audiogram performed by an audiologist will show whether your better ear still has treatable hearing loss, and whether BiCROS is the right next step.

Find the Hearing Aid That's Right For You

 

Benefits of BiCROS Hearing Aids

For people with unaidable hearing in one ear, the ability to perceive sounds from that side again can be life-changing. The most common benefit of BiCROS hearing aids is improved sound awareness, especially in situations where you don’t have time to turn your head or reposition yourself to hear.

Here’s a breakdown of key benefits, all of which help improve everyday interactions:

• Fuller sound environment: You’re no longer limited to hearing only what’s happening on your better side.

• Better speech understanding: Particularly in noisy settings or group conversations, users report less confusion and less need for repetition.

• Increased comfort and safety: Being able to hear someone calling from behind or a car approaching from your worse-hearing side can make daily life easier and safer.
  
  

By sending sound from the worse ear to the better one, BiCROS helps your brain interpret what’s happening in your environment more clearly. This reduces the mental effort often required to keep up with conversations.

 

Drawbacks and Limitations

As effective as BiCROS systems can be, they do come with a few limitations that are important to understand before committing to them.

First, sound localization (the ability to tell where a sound is coming from), is often still difficult with BiCROS. Because both sounds are ultimately processed by one ear, the brain doesn’t have the typical two-ear input it needs to pinpoint direction.

Second, users may experience:

• Feedback or whistling, especially if the fit isn’t perfect or the device is too close to a hat, scarf, or hand.

• Background noise amplification, since the device transmits and boosts sounds from both sides without always filtering well.

These issues can often be addressed through careful programming and follow-up with your hearing care provider. Still, it’s important to have realistic expectations about what BiCROS can and can’t do.

 

BiCROS vs. Other Hearing Solutions

When evaluating your options, it’s helpful to compare BiCROS systems with other hearing devices designed for complex or asymmetrical hearing loss. Not every solution will fit every person’s needs, so understanding the differences can help you make an informed decision.

Here’s how BiCROS compares with common alternatives:

Each of these options has pros and cons. Your decision will likely come down to your degree of hearing loss, lifestyle needs, and whether you’re open to surgical options.

 

What to Expect When Using BiCROS Hearing Aids

Adapting to BiCROS hearing aids is a journey. Because the brain must re-learn how to process and integrate sound from both sides, the first few days or weeks may feel unfamiliar.

Here are a few things to expect as you adjust:

• Sounds may seem unnatural at first, especially from the unaidable side.

• Your brain will need time to learn how to interpret the added information.

• Localization may remain challenging, but overall hearing clarity should improve.

Most audiologists recommend wearing the devices as much as possible during waking hours to help the brain adapt. Users who commit to full-time use typically adjust within 2–4 weeks.

 

Getting Started with BiCROS

If you’re ready to explore BiCROS as a solution, here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:

1. Schedule a hearing test with a licensed audiologist or hearing care provider.

2. Review your audiogram to understand the hearing ability in each ear.

3. Discuss BiCROS candidacy, based on your hearing profile and lifestyle.

4. Choose a provider or manufacturer that offers the features you need, like remote programming, rechargeable batteries, or trial periods.

5. Commit to follow-up care: fine-tuning your devices is essential for long-term success.

Providers like Audicus offer 100-day risk-free trials and lifetime audiology support, making it easier to try a BiCROS system without long-term pressure.

 

FAQs About BiCROS Hearing Aids

What is the difference between CROS and BiCROS hearing aids?

CROS systems send sound from a deaf ear to a normal-hearing ear, while BiCROS devices send and amplify sound in a better ear that still has some hearing loss.

Can BiCROS hearing aids restore hearing in my deaf ear?

No. They do not “fix” or restore hearing in the unaidable ear. They work by rerouting sound to your better ear so you can hear your environment more fully.

Are BiCROS hearing aids available as rechargeable devices?

Yes, many newer BiCROS models come in rechargeable formats, offering convenience and eliminating the need for disposable batteries.

Will BiCROS hearing aids help me in noisy environments?

BiCROS can help you hear more from your surroundings, but background noise may still pose a challenge. Proper programming and support can help minimize distractions.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate for BiCROS?

If one of your ears has little or no usable hearing and the other has treatable hearing loss, you may benefit from BiCROS. A professional hearing test is the best place to start.