Active TriCROS: A Simultaneous Stimulation With a (Bi)CROS System and a Hearing Aid in the Worst Ear for Severely Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objective Severely asymmetrical hearing loss (SAHL) is characterized by a moderately severe or severe hearing loss in one side and normal or mildly impaired controlateral hearing in the other. The Active tri-CROS combines the Contralateral Routing-of-Signal System (CROS, or BiCROS if the best ear is stimulated) and the stimulation of the worst ear by an in-the-canal hearing aid. This study aims to evaluate the benefit of the Active tri-CROS for SAHL patients. Study Design This retrospective study was conducted from September 2019 to December 2020. Setting Ambulatory, tertiary care. Patients Patients were retrospectively included if they had received the Active tri-CROS system after having used a CROS or BiCROS system for SAHL for at least 3 years. Main outcome measures Audiometric gain, signal-to-noise ratio, spatial localization, and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory questionnaires were performed before equipment and after a month with the system. Results Twenty patients (mean, 62 yr old) with a mean of 74.3 ± 8.7 dB HL on the worst ear were included. The mean tonal hearing gain on the worst ear was 20 ± 6 dB. Signal-to-noise ratio significantly rose from 1.43 ± 3.9 to 0.16 ± 3.4 dB (p = 0.0001). Spatial localization was not significantly improved. The mean Tinnitus Handicap Inventory test score of the eight patients suffering from tinnitus rose from 45.5 ± 18.5 to 31 ± 25.2 (p = 0.016). Conclusions The Active tri-CROS system is a promising new therapeutically solution for SAHL.