Products
CROS Instruments | Japebo Compatibility Guide & Buying Help
If you’re looking for CROS instruments, you’re typically trying to solve one specific problem: hearing speech and sounds from your poorer side when one ear can’t be helped with a traditional hearing aid. This guide explains what CROS instruments are, who they’re for, how CROS compatibility works, and what to check before you buy—so you can choose the right solution with confidence.
What are CROS instruments?
A CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signal) setup uses two parts:
A CROS transmitter worn on the non-hearing (or unaidable) ear that picks up sound from that side
A receiving device worn on the better-hearing ear that plays the sound into that ear
The goal is not to “restore” hearing in the unaidable ear, but to reduce the head-shadow effect (when your head blocks sound coming from one side) and make conversations easier when someone speaks from your poorer side.
Who are CROS instruments for?
CROS instruments are generally used when:
You have single-sided deafness (SSD) or one ear that isn’t helpable with amplification
Your other ear has normal hearing or near-normal hearing
If your better ear also has hearing loss, you may need a BiCROS solution instead, where the receiver side both receives sound from the CROS side and amplifies sound for hearing loss on the better ear.
How CROS compatibility works (what you must match)
CROS solutions are not universally interchangeable. In most cases, CROS instruments must be compatible with:
The hearing aid platform or product family (wireless protocol generation matters)
The device style (e.g., RIC/RITE, BTE)
Fitting software and programming system used by the hearing care professional
Because compatibility depends on the exact hearing aid model and generation, the safest approach is to confirm your current hearing aid brand/model (or the platform name) before ordering.
How to choose the right CROS instrument
Use these checks to ensure you’re selecting the correct CROS option:
1) Identify your hearing aid make and model (receiver-side)
Your CROS transmitter must match the ecosystem of the device on your better ear. Check:
The model name on your purchase paperwork
Your hearing clinic’s fitting report
The model information in the manufacturer app (if available)
2) Confirm whether you need CROS or BiCROS
If your better ear hearing is truly normal, a classic CROS setup is typically used. If the better ear needs amplification too, BiCROS is usually required. Your audiologist can confirm this from your hearing test.
3) Decide which wearing style fits your needs
CROS instruments come in different form factors depending on the platform. Consider:
Comfort and cosmetics (how the device sits on the ear)
Battery vs rechargeable options (if offered for your platform)
Daily handling (charging, cleaning, insertion/removal)
Common issues (and what to check)
“I’m not sure this will work with my hearing aid”
Compatibility is the #1 potential pitfall. If you don’t know your hearing aid model/family, pause before buying and confirm it first. Matching brand alone is often not enough—generation and platform usually matter.
“Sound still feels like it’s coming from the wrong side”
That’s expected: CROS routes sound to your better ear. The benefit is improved access to speech from the poorer side, not true stereo hearing. A correct fitting and realistic expectations are key.
“Connectivity drops or pairing is unstable”
This may indicate a platform mismatch, outdated firmware, or a fitting/pairing issue. Your clinic can verify pairing and ensure the devices are set up as a CROS system, not as two independent units.
Where to buy CROS instruments
Buy CROS instruments when you’re confident about platform compatibility and when you can get proper fitting support. If you already know your exact compatible CROS model, you can order online. If you’re unsure, confirm the hearing aid family/platform with your hearing care professional first—this avoids ordering an incompatible transmitter.
FAQ about CROS instruments
Do CROS instruments restore hearing in the deaf ear?
No. They pick up sound from that side and route it to your better ear to help you catch speech and environmental sounds you’d otherwise miss.
What’s the difference between CROS and BiCROS?
CROS is for one unaidable ear and one normal-hearing ear. BiCROS is for one unaidable ear plus hearing loss in the better ear that also needs amplification.
Can I use any CROS transmitter with any hearing aid?
Usually not. CROS instruments are typically tied to a specific brand platform/generation and must be matched to the compatible receiver-side device.
Do I need an audiologist to set up CROS instruments?
In most cases, yes. Proper programming ensures the system routes sound correctly and feels comfortable in real-life listening situations.
What details should I have before ordering?
At minimum: your hearing aid brand and exact model (or platform name), whether you need CROS or BiCROS, and the intended wearing style (RIC/BTE) if applicable.