Bi-CROS Hearing Aids?
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alinaphoenix
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I am single sided deaf and also a hearing aid dispenser. My hearing loss is congenital, and my hearing in my good ear is near perfect. I have tried BiCros, TransEar, and now wear a TransCranial Cros unit.
In my experience, having gone my first 30 years with no help for my hearing, most hearing professionals are inclined not to offer help to people like me. I was told I was a bad candidate for a cochlear implant because my hearing was "too good" in my good ear, and I was sent on my way.
I met my current employer, and he fitted me with BiCros technology. After a lifetime of always saying "huh?" and having to seat everyone in my life on my good side and not being able to hear in noise, the BiCros was a real blessing for me. It was the first time ever that I could fully participate in crowded noisy situations, use the phone on my bad side, and not have to tell everyone I'm hearing impaired... they have to speak up and come closer. The significant improvement in all aspects of my life that I experienced were what inspired me to become a hearing specialist.
However, as much as the BiCros helped, I wasn't a big fan of the wire. I didn't much like wearing aids on both sides. So, my boss was kind enough to allow me to try a TransEar for SSD. I HATED that unit for several reasons. I could hear, but the voices were always faint and far away. I could never turn it up loud enough for me and it constantly squealed. My co-workers would come down the hall and tell me to turn it down because they could hear the squealing. It also took quite a bit of work to get the fit so it wouldn't hurt my ear. Despite several programming sessions with the TransEar experts, we were never able to get the product to where it would produce satisfactory results for me. So, I ended up sending it back.
Audibel introduced a TransCranial Cros product similar to the trans-ear, but with much much better results for me. I can get plenty of volume out of this unit to be able to hear clearly, and no squealing whatsoever. I can cover up my ear, put my head on a pillow, and hug people all day long without worrying about embarrassing feedback. Also, the noise management built into this unit, which is an Anthem Plus Platinum brand, has made a significant difference for me. I don't struggle in noise like I used to and that is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, you have to have very good hearing in the good ear to be a candidate for a Trans Cranial, and you also have to display good discrimination when your deaf ear is blasted, to be able to achieve satisfactory results with this. It is important to work with a hearing professional that has experience in doing the specific testing and fitting necessary for good results.
In my practice, I have a lot of folks who love the Trans Cranial cros and are getting great results. For those who don't get good results with the Trans Cranial, most of the half-deaf folks I work with do prefer the results they get with a BiCros over the results they get aiding only their good ear. I have helped a lot of people who were only aiding their good ear to try BiCros units, and 90% of them end up happier in the BiCros versus aiding their good ear alone.
Specialists who are disinclined to allow patients to try the BiCros are doing their half-deaf patients a serious disservice. Sure, it takes a little extra counseling and a little extra fitting expertise, but it should be up to the patient to judge the results they get. Because of the bias against BiCros, there are a lot of half-deaf people like me out there without the best possible help for their losses. I agree, the BiCros is not a perfect solution, and the technology needs to advance further... but because the half-deaf make up the minority of the hearing impaired population, the R&D is just not a priority for hearing aid manufacturers.
Whatever you decide to try as a half-deaf individual, my recommendation is to work with a specialist who has experience fitting the half-deaf and who will offer you a full range of options. They need to screen you for trans-cranial candidacy, as well as for a bi-cros, and they should allow you to try your recommended solution with no risk to you. Expect that it will take a while to get used to, but work with your specialist and rest assured that with time and practice, your hearing solution will significantly improve your life.
I wish you the best of luck in all you do!
Alina
In my experience, having gone my first 30 years with no help for my hearing, most hearing professionals are inclined not to offer help to people like me. I was told I was a bad candidate for a cochlear implant because my hearing was "too good" in my good ear, and I was sent on my way.
I met my current employer, and he fitted me with BiCros technology. After a lifetime of always saying "huh?" and having to seat everyone in my life on my good side and not being able to hear in noise, the BiCros was a real blessing for me. It was the first time ever that I could fully participate in crowded noisy situations, use the phone on my bad side, and not have to tell everyone I'm hearing impaired... they have to speak up and come closer. The significant improvement in all aspects of my life that I experienced were what inspired me to become a hearing specialist.
However, as much as the BiCros helped, I wasn't a big fan of the wire. I didn't much like wearing aids on both sides. So, my boss was kind enough to allow me to try a TransEar for SSD. I HATED that unit for several reasons. I could hear, but the voices were always faint and far away. I could never turn it up loud enough for me and it constantly squealed. My co-workers would come down the hall and tell me to turn it down because they could hear the squealing. It also took quite a bit of work to get the fit so it wouldn't hurt my ear. Despite several programming sessions with the TransEar experts, we were never able to get the product to where it would produce satisfactory results for me. So, I ended up sending it back.
Audibel introduced a TransCranial Cros product similar to the trans-ear, but with much much better results for me. I can get plenty of volume out of this unit to be able to hear clearly, and no squealing whatsoever. I can cover up my ear, put my head on a pillow, and hug people all day long without worrying about embarrassing feedback. Also, the noise management built into this unit, which is an Anthem Plus Platinum brand, has made a significant difference for me. I don't struggle in noise like I used to and that is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, you have to have very good hearing in the good ear to be a candidate for a Trans Cranial, and you also have to display good discrimination when your deaf ear is blasted, to be able to achieve satisfactory results with this. It is important to work with a hearing professional that has experience in doing the specific testing and fitting necessary for good results.
In my practice, I have a lot of folks who love the Trans Cranial cros and are getting great results. For those who don't get good results with the Trans Cranial, most of the half-deaf folks I work with do prefer the results they get with a BiCros over the results they get aiding only their good ear. I have helped a lot of people who were only aiding their good ear to try BiCros units, and 90% of them end up happier in the BiCros versus aiding their good ear alone.
Specialists who are disinclined to allow patients to try the BiCros are doing their half-deaf patients a serious disservice. Sure, it takes a little extra counseling and a little extra fitting expertise, but it should be up to the patient to judge the results they get. Because of the bias against BiCros, there are a lot of half-deaf people like me out there without the best possible help for their losses. I agree, the BiCros is not a perfect solution, and the technology needs to advance further... but because the half-deaf make up the minority of the hearing impaired population, the R&D is just not a priority for hearing aid manufacturers.
Whatever you decide to try as a half-deaf individual, my recommendation is to work with a specialist who has experience fitting the half-deaf and who will offer you a full range of options. They need to screen you for trans-cranial candidacy, as well as for a bi-cros, and they should allow you to try your recommended solution with no risk to you. Expect that it will take a while to get used to, but work with your specialist and rest assured that with time and practice, your hearing solution will significantly improve your life.
I wish you the best of luck in all you do!
Alina
maryllisan
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Cros system vs. traditional hearing aid?
Hi, my son has severe hearing loss in his right ear and almost perfect hearing on his left ear. We are trying to determine which device will be best for him. We tried an Oticon hearing aid for 2 years but now it doesn't work for him anymore b/c it lacks the volume capacity to compensate for his hearing loss which got worse. Today we were advice about the different options available, including the cros system and FM systems. I would like to hear from people with experience with cros systems hearing aids. My main concern is the fact that we will be sending sounds to his "good" ear and I don't know how invasive that will be. He's 7, said that he will be ok using 2 hearing aids, I like the fact that is someone talks to him on the right side, he will be able to hear it with the left ear. Any advice from people with experience will be greatly appreciated...we want what's best for him! thanks in advance
Hi, my son has severe hearing loss in his right ear and almost perfect hearing on his left ear. We are trying to determine which device will be best for him. We tried an Oticon hearing aid for 2 years but now it doesn't work for him anymore b/c it lacks the volume capacity to compensate for his hearing loss which got worse. Today we were advice about the different options available, including the cros system and FM systems. I would like to hear from people with experience with cros systems hearing aids. My main concern is the fact that we will be sending sounds to his "good" ear and I don't know how invasive that will be. He's 7, said that he will be ok using 2 hearing aids, I like the fact that is someone talks to him on the right side, he will be able to hear it with the left ear. Any advice from people with experience will be greatly appreciated...we want what's best for him! thanks in advance
vocalistbob
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I was fitted 2 weeks ago with the brand new Phonak Audeo S Smart and the results are amazing. I had a Transear which never worked very well or very consistently, but this is a whole new animal.
It uses Bluetooth technology to send the sounds caught by the aid in my deaf ear to my good ear. It's set up as a CROS, but can be used as a Bi-Cros too. If you whisper into my deaf ear, I can hear you perfectly (in my good ear) as long as the environment is reasonably quiet. The further away a sound is, the more directionality I perceive. I stood in the middle of my girlfriend's living room with my eyes closed and had her walk to different areas of the room and then speak. I was able to point to the general area where she was standing every time.
In noisy environments, background noises are automatically filtered and are much less grating. At a party last week, with (literally) 0 conversations going on at once, I was still able to hear and understand the person who was talking directly to me - not perfdectly, but well enough and certainly better than I could have hoped for before I had these aids.
These BTE aids are very, very small - just a bit over 3/4" long. There are no ear molds, just tiny buds that fit easily into the ear canal. My aids are gray, to match my gray hair. There are no controls. The batteries only last 2 - 3 days max., which is a nuisance. Fortunately, I buy my batteries on line - they are much cheaper than at any retail store.
If you are dealing with Single-Sided Deafness, please do yourself a favor and try them.
I keep using the word "thrilled" whenever I tell people how I like them - and I am telling everybody!
It uses Bluetooth technology to send the sounds caught by the aid in my deaf ear to my good ear. It's set up as a CROS, but can be used as a Bi-Cros too. If you whisper into my deaf ear, I can hear you perfectly (in my good ear) as long as the environment is reasonably quiet. The further away a sound is, the more directionality I perceive. I stood in the middle of my girlfriend's living room with my eyes closed and had her walk to different areas of the room and then speak. I was able to point to the general area where she was standing every time.
In noisy environments, background noises are automatically filtered and are much less grating. At a party last week, with (literally) 0 conversations going on at once, I was still able to hear and understand the person who was talking directly to me - not perfdectly, but well enough and certainly better than I could have hoped for before I had these aids.
These BTE aids are very, very small - just a bit over 3/4" long. There are no ear molds, just tiny buds that fit easily into the ear canal. My aids are gray, to match my gray hair. There are no controls. The batteries only last 2 - 3 days max., which is a nuisance. Fortunately, I buy my batteries on line - they are much cheaper than at any retail store.
If you are dealing with Single-Sided Deafness, please do yourself a favor and try them.
I keep using the word "thrilled" whenever I tell people how I like them - and I am telling everybody!
RoseRodent
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I don't have loads to add cos I've never worn them myself, but just wanted to say the CROS and BiCROS info is in the back of my HA brochure and there are 2 options for the transmitter to have no mould on it at all, one is where you just have an elbow loop over the top of your ear CI-style, which may be OK for adults but I wouldn't imagine it holding for children or sports, and the other option is a specially designed totally open ear arrangement, even more open than an open dome fitting, but which looks more secure on the ear. Seems like that way less hearing will be stopped up on the better ear.
Styles & Colors - Phonak CROS | Phonak - life is on
Styles & Colors - Phonak CROS | Phonak - life is on
Anij
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Have you looked into BAHA ? (either BAHA by Cochlear America, or Ponto by Oticon)
Many people with SSD find that BAHA is a significantly better option than the CROS/BiCROS aids.
There is a headband trial available to determine if the BAHA is a good "fit" for the individual.
Just another option that you might want to look into
