CROS Hearing Aid
Pronunciation: KROS
Also written as: CROS — Contralateral Routing of Signals
A hearing device configuration in which sound picked up by a microphone on the non-functional ear is wirelessly routed to a receiver worn on the better-hearing ear.
Full Definition
A CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signals) hearing aid system is prescribed for individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD) or unaidable hearing loss in one ear. A transmitter microphone is placed on the poorer ear, and the signal is routed—typically wirelessly—to a hearing aid or receiver on the contralateral, functional ear. This allows the wearer to perceive sounds originating from the deaf side. Editors should note the all-caps convention for 'CROS' as it is a widely used acronym within audiology documentation; the variant BiCROS applies when the better ear also has some degree of hearing loss. Confusing CROS with BiCROS in clinical editing can misrepresent the patient's fitting.
Usage
Usage note: Always render as 'CROS' in all capitals. When referring to the bilateral variant, use 'BiCROS' with a capital 'B', lowercase 'i', and all-caps 'CROS'. Avoid spelling out 'Contralateral Routing of Signals' in running text after first use.
In Context
- "The audiologist documented that the patient had been fitted with a CROS hearing aid following surgical confirmation of anacusis in the right ear." — Audiological assessment report
- "Care should be taken not to substitute 'BiCROS' for 'CROS' when the patient's aided ear requires no additional amplification." — Editorial style note for audiology journals