- Widex CROS and BiCROS hearing aids are designed specifically for single-sided deafness (SSD), routing sound from the non-hearing ear to the better-hearing ear to overcome the head shadow effect and improve awareness of sounds from all directions.
- These systems don’t restore hearing in the deaf ear, but they significantly improve clarity, directionality, and daily communication by allowing you to hear your full environment without constantly turning your head.
- Choosing between CROS and BiCROS and getting the right fit and expectations requires an audiologist’s expertise, as SSD can have medical causes and CROS solutions are highly specialized and personalized.
Widex CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signals) and BiCROS hearing aids help people with one-sided hearing loss or single–sided deafness (SSD). If you are deaf in one ear and have half-normal hearing in the other, there are Widex CROS models available for you. If you are deaf in one ear and have some form of hearing loss in the other ear, then the BiCROS hearing aid is for you.
CROS hearing aids are not like traditional devices. The hearing aid that is located in your deaf ear does not actually have an amplifier or speaker in it. The sound picked up by the microphone is processed and immediately transferred to the hearing aid in your “good ear” so that all of the hearing occurs in that ear.
The CROS System
In a CROS system, because you have normal hearing in the other ear, you simply receive the sound from the other side of your body and rely on your normal hearing to process it. In a BiCROS system, because you have hearing loss on one side and you are deaf on the other, the device in your “bad ear” transmits sound to your other ear, where it is processed and amplified to specifications.
This process allows you to do all of your hearing in your good ear, and it gives you access to the full range of sounds in your immediate environment. If you simply relied on your good ear to hear everything, you would miss out on directionality and clarity because part of how you hear is the natural shape and position of your two ears.
There is even something called the “head shadow effect” that describes the phenomenon of your head blocking sound from one side of your body from being heard by the ear on the other side. CROS hearing aids fight against this effect and allow you to hear everything in your entire environment.
Things to Consider Before Buying
CROS hearing aids are only useful if you have SSD. If you have normal hearing loss, Widex has a lot of regular hearing aid options available. If you know that you have SSD the main consideration you need to make is if you need a CROS or BiCros device. You need CROS if you have normal hearing in your other ear and BiCROS if you have hearing loss in that ear.
If you do not know if you have SSD, it is vital that you speak to an audiologist. Most of the time, SSD often occurs later in life, and due to a specific event or trauma. When a person is not born with SSD and it comes on later in life, it is important to understand why it began.
If it started because of a serious medical condition, you may need to follow up and make sure it is not something that will grow or is life-threatening. On the other hand, SSD could be a symptom of a curable condition, in which case CROS hearing aids would not be needed at all. The following is a list of pros and cons specifically related to Widex CROS hearing aids.
Pros
- More than 60,000 Americans develop SSD every year, and this technology gives those with SSD the ability to hear more normally.
- Widex has a CROS option for their “Dream” family of hearing aids and a BiCROS option for their “Evoke” family of hearing aids.
- The wireless technology is so advanced and processes sound so quickly that you will not hear an echo in your good ear.
- Widex uses up to 3 times less power than some other CROS hearing aids.
- Widex has developed hearing aids with great processing power so that there is no delay between the time your microphone picks up a sound and when that sound enters your ear.
- You can hear all of the sounds around you without turning your head.
- The Widex CROS can be paired with any wireless hearing aid from all of their levels of technology.
Cons
- CROS hearing aids only work in very specific situations.
- You do not have access to all of the technology found in other high-end hearing aids.
- CROS hearing aids are generally more expensive than others.
- When you use Widex CROS, it locks your other hearing aid into just one automatic program with no ability to switch back and forth depending on the environment.
Widex CROS Features & Benefits
Design/type of hearing aid
With the Widex CROS system, you wear a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) on your bad ear that transmits directly to your good ear. You can choose from the Widex “Dream” family of hearing aids for a CROS system and the “Evoke” family if you suffer from asymmetrical hearing loss with profound hearing loss in one ear.
Fit and Wearability
Widex CROS and BiCROS hearing aids sit on your ear just like a normal BTE hearing aid. However, CROS hearing aids have traditionally given wearers difficulties because most people who need CROS hearing aids have been able to hear in both ears for the majority of their lives. You not only need to get comfortable with wearing hearing aids for the first time, but you also have to learn how to process and pinpoint sounds when they are all coming into just one ear. The bottom line is that you should work with your audiologist, find the right device with the right fit, and then be patient and wait until you have had time to grow accustomed to the change.
Widex CROS Performance
Battery
The Widex CROS battery saving technology means that you will use up to three times less battery power than other CROS solutions. There are no rechargeable options for Widex CROS hearing aids, but the battery-saving technology means each battery lasts longer.
Sound quality
Because they are such specialty devices, Widex CROS hearing aids do not have as many “sound quality” features as normal hearing aids. However, the device that you pair with your CROS hearing aids is where these features come into play. Make sure to read about other Widex devices to see the different sound quality features available.
Directionality
Widex CROS hearing aids are all about directionality. If you suffer from SSD, then the listening directionality is not possible without you physically turning your head and pointing your “good ear” towards the sound. CROS hearing aids allow you to hear sounds all around you.
Automatic sound adjustment based on the environment
One of the unfortunate aspects of Widex CROS hearing aids is that they lock your other hearing aid into one automatic setting without the ability to switch back and forth depending on your environment. It is important to choose a hearing aid with the automatic settings that you like best.
Streaming
To stream audio to your hearing aids, you must first turn off your CROS transmitter and then use your streaming functions.
Widex CROS Accessories
With CROS hearing aids, you can use any Widex accessory that is compatible with the family of hearing aids you are using. These accessories will all be connected to the hearing aid in your good ear.
Here is a list of those accessories:
COM-DEX
The Com-Dex is a small, wireless “rebroadcaster” worn around your neck that accepts Bluetooth signals. When you are wearing it, you can hear the Bluetooth signals in both ears, giving you hands-free calling capability because the device picks up your voice as well. You can also place the device on someone else’s shirt and hear everything they say clearly, even in a crowd.
RC-DEX
Essentially a remote for your Widex hearing aids that allows you to control volume and program settings. While the same functionality is available in the Widex apps, some people do not have a smartphone or prefer the small size of this remote.
TV-DEX
The TV-Dex base connects to your television and audio output. It transmits to a pendant that you wear around your neck. The base sends wireless signals to the pendant, which is connected through Bluetooth to your hearing aids.
Widex CROS Cost
The cost of a Widex CROS system largely depends on these factors:
- The technology you choose for the other hearing aid.
- The amount of service both before and after the sale that you use with your local audiologist.
- Whether or not you need a CROS or BiCROS device.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,400 to $4,000 or more, depending on each of these factors. CROS is somewhat of a niche product, but as the devices gain in popularity, they will also increase in technology and features.
Hearing Aid Alternatives
For SSD, there are no real alternatives other than simply using your “good ear” and not worrying about hearing aids at all. This is an option that many people choose, but it comes with a lot of negatives and annoyances. You will have the freedom to hear naturally, but you will miss a lot in terms of conversations and the ability to hear things well that happen on the side of your body where your deaf ear is.
If you choose to use Widex CROS hearing aids, make sure to give them a chance. Your listening experience will be considerably different, and you will have to get used to it, but when it is done right, most people prefer CROS hearing aids over anything.
FAQs About Widex CROS
How much does Widex CROS cost?
The price of a Widex CROS system largely depends on which hearing aid you choose for your other ear, but you can expect to pay between $1,500 to $4,000 or more for each device.
Is the Widex Moment CROS compatible?
Widex has four hearing aid families, including Unique, Beyond, Moment, and Evoke. Currently, the only one of these hearing aid families not compatible with a CROS system is the Widex Moment.
Are CROS hearing aids worth it?
For the vast majority of people who struggle with SSD, CROS hearing aids are worth it. Not being able to hear the sounds from one side of your body, and especially higher frequency sounds, is an annoyance that most people cannot handle.
Does Costco sell CROS hearing aids?
Yes, Costco does sell CROS hearing aids, and the Kirkland Signature 10.0 is CROS compatible.
Learn More About Widex CROS
If you struggle with SSD, even if your good ear hears perfectly, Widex CROS and BiCROS hearing aids are an option you should consider. You may not even know how many things you are missing with SSD until you take steps to fix it.
The good thing about the Widex CROS option is that you can pair it with hearing aids with as much or as little technology as you want. Widex hearing aids are known for their quality and processing speed, so you will not experience delays or echoes with your CROS devices, and you can find sound quality features that help make your listening experience as close to natural as possible.
If you are experiencing SSD, we would highly recommend that you set an appointment with your local audiologist and discuss all of your options, including the possibility of CROS hearing aids.
You can use our Find An Audiologist tool to find one near you. Ask An Audiologist today!
