I need a biCROS hearing aid. Should I consider RIC or CIC?
- Koorosh Nejad
- Sep 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Here is a summary of my consultation with a couple of patients over telecare about their choices of biCROS hearing aids. Both patients were first-time users of hearing aids. They wondered whether they should consider RIC biCROS or CIC biCROS hearing aids to start. Additionally, they were curious about which models of RIC and CIC hearing aids are the best in the market.
Please read more about one-sided hearing loss, biCROS, and CROS hearing aids in the following articles:
Should I choose between RIC and CIC hearing aids for a CROS or biCROS set?
A rechargeable CROS CIC hearing aid can be quite invisible for large-sized ear canals, but a CROS RIC will be more visible. Here are some differences between RIC and CIC hearing aids in the CROS system:
Active Sports: RIC hearing aids may interfere with using helmets for activities like skiing or mountain biking. CIC hearing aids have better retention, making them suitable for active sports, yoga, or sailing where retaining the hearing aids is important.
Medical Use: CIC hearing aids are preferred by doctors and medical crews. They are also better for those in DIY and construction who need to wear masks, as they do not interfere with masks as much as RIC hearing aids do.
Bluetooth Capability: CIC CROS hearing aids do not have Bluetooth. If streaming music and managing hands-free calls are priorities, consider RIC CROS systems. Without Bluetooth, remote reprogramming is limited. If you have limited mobility or want remote reprogramming, RIC CROS hearing aids are the way to go.
Sound Quality: RIC hearing aids offer better sound quality and noise processing than CIC hearing aids. If you plan to use your CROS hearing aids in noisy environments, a RIC hearing aid with sophisticated background noise reduction is advisable.
Wind Noise Management: CIC hearing aids manage wind noise better, making them a better choice for outdoor work in windy locations.
Hearing Loss Severity: CIC hearing aids work well for mild to moderate hearing loss. If your hearing loss in the good ear is severe or profound, consider RIC CROS or RIC biCROS hearing aids.
Custom Fitting: If you need an earmould for fitting your hearing aids for retention, RIC CROS is your best chance. There are limited options for custom-made ITC or CIC CROS in the market. All RIC CROS or biCROS systems can be fitted with custom earmolds or micromolds for improved retention and acoustics. If you want a pair of custom-made rechargeable CROS or biCROS hearing aids, consider Signia Silk IX CIC or Rexton Reach inoX CIC with custom-made eartips. The eartips are made of acrylic and click onto the tip of the receiver, enhancing retention and comfort.
Should I care to have Bluetooth on my CROS hearing aid?
This question applies to anyone looking for hearing aids, whether for binaural fitting or a CROS/biCROS system. The answer depends on the patient's needs and preferences. If an invisible CROS is a top priority, it may not have Bluetooth. However, if the appearance of the hearing aids is not a concern, RIC CROS hearing aids with Bluetooth are available.
The only advantage of a CROS hearing aid without Bluetooth is potentially longer battery life. Bluetooth consumes battery power. CROS hearing aids often struggle to last a full day. This is less of a concern with battery-operated CROS hearing aids but may be an issue with rechargeable ones.
Should I go for rechargeable CROS hearing aids or battery-powered CROS hearing aids?
CROS and biCROS hearing aids require constant communication, making them power-hungry. Until recently, most rechargeable CROS hearing aids offered only 12-14 hours of runtime. However, some manufacturers have improved battery life for rechargeable hearing aids. Here are some of the best rechargeable CROS hearing aids available:
Do CROS or biCROS hearing aids help you hear better in a noisy restaurant?
The short answer is not much. The sound transmitted from the deaf side to the good ear may carry a lot of noise, overwhelming the good ear. If you plan to use a CROS or biCROS hearing aid in a noisy restaurant, I recommend choosing a hearing aid with excellent noise processing. Ask your audiologist to fit it with closed domes. For more information, please see this article discussing hearing with CROS and biCROS hearing aids in noisy environments.
What is the most affordable invisible CIC CROS hearing aid?
My choice for an invisible CIC CROS system is Rexton Reach inoX. It comes in five technology levels. If you're on a tight budget, you can opt for a lower technology level. The lowest model is Rexton Reach inoX 1 IX CROS.
What is the most affordable RIC CROS hearing aid?
When choosing a RIC CROS, consider battery life and noise reduction processing. You don't want to buy very cheap CROS hearing aids that run out of battery during the day or are unsuitable for noisy environments. My recommendations for affordable CROS or biCROS RIC hearing aids are Starkey Edge AI RIC CROS and Signia Pure C&G BCT IX. You can opt for lower technology levels until you find a price that suits you, but be aware that you may lose some key features.
Updates
September 2025: Since this post was published, Signia has released the Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC. This custom-made rechargeable CIC hearing aid offers CROS and biCROS settings. A unit of Signia Insio C&G IX CIC can be fitted on the better ear, while a Signia Silk CROS transmits on the deaf side. The Signia Insio is custom-made, and the Signia Silk can be fitted with an easy-fit sleeve or a custom-made micromould. This setup covers mild to severe hearing loss for CROS and biCROS cases, making the Signia Insio Charge and Go IX CIC the only rechargeable custom-made CIC with CROS and biCROS settings on the market. A Signia Insio C&G IX CIC in CROS format offers a generous 26 hours of runtime on a full charge (depending on your level of hearing loss) and uses the same power charger as the binaural Signia Insio IX CIC. For a full review, please see our article on Signia Charge and Go IX CIC hearing aids. October 2025 - Rexton released the twin product to Signia Pure Charge and Go BCT IX called Rexton Reach Plus T BC. Same as the Signia Pure C&G BCT, the Rexton Reach Plus offers telecoil, classic Bluetooth and longer battery life. It is a robust product for everyday use. Rexton Reach Plus comes in 80, 60 and 40 technology levels as well as a CROS model for single-sided deafness. Please see the price of Rexton Reach Plus hearing aids in our Rexton collection here.
Questions?
Do you have questions about CROS or biCROS hearing aids? Please do not hesitate to book a free Zoom meeting through the following link.
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