FYI: If you’re looking for more broad information about hearing aids, then check out our rundown of this year’s best hearing aids overall.
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View PackagesPeople with unilateral hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids that use CROS systems, a specialized technology that helps users with impaired hearing in one ear better understand speech and sounds around them.
In this rundown, we’ll take a closer look at unilateral hearing loss and some of the best hearing aid brands that address the issue.
FYI: If you’re looking for more broad information about hearing aids, then check out our rundown of this year’s best hearing aids overall.
When choosing the best hearing aid providers for unilateral hearing loss, we rated companies on the following:
Hearing aid provider | Cost for a pair | Warranty | Features for one-sided hearing loss |
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Hear.com | $139 to $229 per month; $5,400 per pair for Signia CROS Silk X | 3 years |
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MDHearing | $299.98 to $599.98 | 90 days |
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Phonak | $1,300 to $4,000 | 1-year limited international warranty; for local warranty, ask a Phonak hearing care professional |
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Oticon | $825 to $3,900 | Warranty coverage varies depending on your local provider |
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Widex | $1,400 to $3,600 | Warranties are honored only for devices sold by authorized Widex dealers. For more information, contact Widex. |
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Cost for a pair: $299.98 to $599.98
MDHearingAid offers affordable hearing-loss solutions for people with unilateral hearing loss. Many online hearing aid companies require you to purchase a pair of hearing aids, but you can purchase a single device with MDHearingAid.
If you have mild to moderate one-sided hearing loss, then you may want to look into MDHearingAid’s basic model, Air, which can be purchased as a single hearing aid for unilateral hearing loss. It also has a virtually invisible design that delivers high-quality sound when you’re in a variety of settings, such as a restaurant, theater, or large crowd.
Using this hearing aid on your ear with hearing loss can help amplify voices over background noise, so you can focus on important conversations without being distracted. Other standout features include three environmental setting options — quiet, noisy, and social — to customize your hearing aid.
The MDHearingAid Air starts at a one-time payment of $299.98 for a pair. (Counterintuitively, purchasing just a single pair costs more at $599.99.) MDHearingAid offers a 90-day warranty against material defects and workmanship, as well as U.S.-based customer service with 24/7 support whenever you need it.
To learn more about MDHearingAid, read our MDHearingAid review.
Cost for a pair: $5,400
Hear.com is a great destination for resources related to hearing aids and hearing loss. What’s more, it brings the best hearing aid manufacturers to the table to help you decide which hearing aid is right for your unique needs. With a generous 45-day risk-free trial, Hear.com offers hearing aids from a variety of manufacturers that cater to one-sided hearing loss or general hearing loss in both ears. It offers both CROS and BiCROS (for when you have hearing loss in both ears, but one ear is a lot worse) systems targeted for individuals with one-sided deafness or reduced hearing.
Hear.com carries several Signia hearing aid models, one of which is the Signia CROS Silk X. Intended for people with one-sided hearing loss, the Signia Silk X has a discreet design that disappears inside your ear. As one of the smallest hearing aids in the industry, they have special click sleeves in four different sizes for comfortable, everyday wear. The material is made out of soft silicone that fits the shape of your ear canal. The technology also makes it easy for better speech clarity and natural sounds, and you can easily stream your favorite music or take phone calls through the devices. What’s unique about these hearing aids is that their microphones pick up sound directly inside the ear canal for an immersive sound experience.
Signia CROS Silk X devices vary in pricing, but they’re typically around $2,700 per hearing aid, or $5,400 per pair. Signia offers a two-year warranty, but that increases to three years if you purchase your devices through Hear.com. Hear.com also has exceptional customer service and a 100 percent money-back guarantee, with access to over 2,000 hearing professionals offering both in-person and telehealth appointments. Hear.com also offers in-person fittings and hearing assessments.
To learn more about Hear.com, read our Hear.com review.
Cost: $3,000 to $6,000 for a pair
Phonak offers a wide range of hearing aids for varied hearing loss, but it also caters to individuals with unilateral hearing loss. Phonak’s latest model, the CROS P, helps you hear all the sounds around you with ease. The CROS P is available as a rechargeable aid, and it is compatible with Phonak’s Paradise hearing aids so it can stream audio from a cell phone.
With the Phonak CROS P, you can enjoy hearing full sounds and voices with the switch of a button. The device consists of a microphone that picks up sound from the hearing-loss ear and sends it to the other ear outfitted with a hearing aid. The discreet Phonak CROS P is designed to improve awareness of sounds and speech around you. Since it uses new Phonak Venture technology, the hearing aid makes it easier to distinguish sounds and hear clearly. CROS P is designed to automatically detect various listening environments and switch to the best setting. Other features include zooming in on various voices for focused speech at restaurants and in other hard-to-hear situations.
Contact Phonak for the latest pricing. The company currently offers a one-year limited international warranty, and the length of the local warranty depends on the provider you purchased your Phonak hearing aids from.
Cost: $825 to $3,900 for a pair
Oticon is known for its innovative BrainHearing technology, which supports the brain’s natural way of making sense of sounds. Among Oticon’s broad range of hearing aids are devices geared toward users with one-sided hearing loss for an immersive, high-quality sound experience.
Oticon CROS works by way of a wireless transmitter and hearing aid that picks up sound, which is then sent from the impaired ear to the better ear. With Oticon CROS, users with unilateral hearing loss can have access to advanced features such as wireless streaming and natural, clear sounds in a variety of environments. Oticon CROS uses advanced dual-streaming technology to help you listen to music, watch TV, or have a full conversation without missing a word. I recommend Oticon CROS hearing aids for an immersive wireless streaming experience.
Pricing for Oticon devices varies depending on the model and features, but it’s generally between $825 and $3,900. The warranty will depend on where you purchased your Oticon hearing aids. Oticon offers great customer service and technology geared toward changing and improving the lives of people with hearing loss. For hearing tests and other hearing aid assistance, Oticon partners with a wide range of hearing health-care providers.
Pro Tip: Want to learn more about Oticon’s unique features and pricing? Read our latest Oticon Hearing Aid Cost and Pricing article.
Cost: $3,000 to $6,000 for a pair
Widex offers a personalized sound experience so you can hear all the sounds around you. The company’s prices may be slightly high, but I still recommend looking into its CROS systems.
If you experience deafness in one year and normal hearing in your other year, then I recommend looking into Widex CROS hearing aids. The devices are designed specifically for individuals with one-sided hearing loss, and they offer excellent sound quality and no echoes or distortion. Widex CROS wirelessly transmits sound from your impaired ear to your better ear.
Another standout feature of Widex’s CROS devices is that they reduce the head shadow effect, creating an improved hearing experience with better localization. This, in turn, helps you hear all the sounds around you for a full 360-degree hearing experience. Along with advanced battery-saving technology, Widex CROS is a game changer for helping you customize your hearing needs and receive professional support from a hearing care expert.
The price for Widex devices varies depending on where you purchase them, and a warranty is honored for devices purchased from an authorized Widex dealer.
FYI: Contemplating other affordable hearing aid choices? I break down two top-tier hearing aid brands in my article Widex vs. Starkey Hearing Aid Comparison.
An estimated 60,000 Americans of all ages have unilateral hearing loss. Unilateral hearing loss, also known as one-sided hearing loss, is when an individual experiences normal hearing in one ear and any amount of hearing loss in the other ear. One-sided hearing loss affects only one ear, and it can require special technology to restore clear sound and speech.
If you have mild or moderate unilateral hearing loss, then a single hearing aid on that ear may work well for you. Unfortunately not all traditional hearing aids cater to users with moderate or severe unilateral hearing loss, so consider hearing aids that use CROS technology.
Several hearing aid brands have devices outfitted with CROS technology, which is designed specifically for users who have unilateral hearing loss. Some top hearing aid companies that offer CROS systems include Oticon, Phonak, and Widex.
CROS technology works by taking the sound in the ear experiencing hearing loss and sending it to the unaffected ear. CROS hearing aids are worn either in or behind both ears, depending on the style.
Users with one-sided hearing loss can greatly benefit from either a single aid or hearing aids equipped with CROS technology. I recommend looking into providers such as MDHearingAid, Phonak, and Oticon, which offer affordable solutions for individuals experiencing unilateral hearing loss. If you or a loved one has severe or profound hearing loss, I recommend reading our article Best Hearing Aids for Severe to Profound Hearing Loss. If you’re looking for a new smartphone that’s compatible with select hearing aids, then take a look at my article Best iPhones for Seniors.
Yes, there are many options for single hearing aid purchases through companies such as MDHearingAid. If you have normal hearing in one ear and severely impaired hearing in the other, then it’s recommended to get a specialized hearing aid.
Hearing aids outfitted with CROS technology can help significantly improve the hearing experience of individuals who are deaf in one ear by sending the sound to the normal ear.
Unilateral hearing loss refers to single-sided hearing loss — mild to profound — in one ear. An individual can have reduced hearing or experience significant hearing loss in one ear.
There is no cure for hearing loss, but there are several hearing aids you can use to help amplify sounds and better distinguish speech.
You can protect the hearing you have by keeping your ears free of wax and keeping the volume of headphones and hearing aids at lower levels.