Best Hearing Aids for Single-Sided Hearing Loss, Tested and Reviewed by Audiologists
Our experts evaluated the best hearing aids for single-sided hearing loss and narrowed down our top over-the-counter providers to Jabra Enhance, MDHearing, and Eargo.
Our resident audiologists and senior tech experts tested the industry’s top hearing aids and narrowed down the list to our top picks for single-sided hearing loss.
How We Tested the Hearing Aids
Our tech team conducted over 100 hours of hands-on testing to impartially compare the top options. We focused on a wide range of factors that could affect efficacy and comfort for users with single-sided hearing loss, taking notes on every aspect of our experience.
Here’s what our testing process looked like for OTC hearing aids that could be ordered online without a prescription:
- We tried out each brand’s online hearing test, comparing our results to in-person evaluations from an audiologist.
- Then, we selected our hearing aids and made our purchase, evaluating the overall purchasing process. We considered the price and value of each hearing aid model, current promotions, additional fees, and upfront costs.
- Once the devices arrived at our doorstep, we followed the instructions to set them up. If the brand had a mobile app, we downloaded it to our phones and set it up. We evaluated the ease of use and the total number of steps required to get our hearing aids out of the box and fully functional.
- We contacted customer service several times to evaluate the quality of care by phone, mobile app (if applicable), and online chat features.
- Our team tested each hearing aid for a week, using them at home, in noisy environments, and in more intimate, conversational settings. We evaluated the hearing aid’s features, sound quality, and ease of use in each location.
For prescription hearing aids that can’t be ordered online, we spoke with Dr. Reisman about her expertise with each brand. We used her experience prescribing and testing these hearing aids, along with feedback from her patients, to evaluate and rank them.
How We Chose the Best Hearing Aids
Choosing the right hearing aid can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time shopping for one. To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of the best hearing aids for single-sided hearing loss. We spent hours testing models, consulting audiologists, and evaluating providers based on the following criteria.
- UHL features: This is the most important factor we considered while evaluating hearing aid providers. We included providers that offer one hearing aid or pairs, CROS systems, Bluetooth streaming, and customizable sound settings. Each provider on our list has at least one essential feature that makes them better for balancing sound inputs and living with single-sided hearing loss.
- Comfort: It may feel a little unbalanced to have a device in only one ear, so we tested multiple models and looked for those that were the most comfortable. We also considered providers offering different ways to enhance hearing in one ear without feeling lopsided, such as the ability to add a CROS or BiCROS system.
- Price: We’ve included both affordable OTC hearing aids and pricier prescription hearing aids that are custom-fit to meet your needs. While all of the providers on our list offer competitive pricing and good value, some are better suited for budget shoppers than others.
- Remote care: Many providers offer remote care, a major benefit for seniors with single-sided hearing loss. We included providers that include various forms of remote care to help you adjust your hearing aids.
- Battery life: Some of our top picks include batteries that can be worn for months or even years without replacement, while others offer rechargeable batteries that can be left to charge while sleeping. These options give you more control over how you use and maintain your hearing devices.
Why Trust Us
Our tech expert team tries out the latest gadgets and devices for seniors each year. We’ve logged hundreds of hours testing and reviewing hearing aids from dozens of providers.
We also worked with experts, like our resident licensed audiologist, Dr. Ruth Reisman. She has personally tested and prescribed hearing aids from providers on this list. She’s also worked alongside us to select the best options for single-sided hearing loss and provided her feedback on specific providers and models. Dr. Reisman has over three decades of experience working with older adults who have hearing loss, so we take her word seriously!
SeniorLiving.org is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines
- Sold in pairs only
- Mobile app for customization and remote adjustments
- Behind-the-ear devices
- Sold in singles or pairs
- No mobile app
- Behind-the-ear and in-ear devices
- Sold in pairs only
- Mobile app for customization and remote adjustments
- Completely-in-canal and earbud-style devices
- Solutions for mild to profound hearing loss
- Rich sound quality
- Industry-leading technology
- Notch Therapy (NT) for tonal tinnitus
- Excellent styles and aesthetic appeal
- In-ear and BTE models
Contents
Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) — hearing loss in one ear and normal hearing in the other — affects an estimated 5 percent of American adults. Only a fraction of them wear hearing aids.1 For many people with UHL, wearing one (or two, depending on their preference) hearing aid can help improve hearing. After thorough testing and research, we selected Jabra Enhance as our top pick due to its excellent value, intuitive mobile app for individual hearing aid adjustments, and seamless Bluetooth streaming.
Our tech experts spent over 100 hours researching and comparing the top hearing aids for UHL. We evaluated each hearing aid for factors such as price, comfort, remote care, battery life, and UHL features. Our resident audiologist, Dr. Ruth Reisman, also provided her insights and expertise for the piece. Below, we’ll examine the our top picks for single-sided hearing loss, including over-the-counter and prescription options. We’ll also explore UHL and the types of hearing aids that can help.
Our tech experts and audiologists tested all of the hearing aids on our list, including Jabra Enhance and MDHearing.
Best Hearing Aids for Single-Sided Hearing Loss
What Is Unilateral Hearing Loss?
UHL occurs when an individual has hearing loss in one ear and normal hearing in the other. When there’s nonfunctional hearing in one ear, it’s called single-sided deafness. Single-sided deafness affects an estimated 60,000 Americans each year.2
Many people living with unilateral hearing loss simply rely on their “good” ear for listening, but some choose a hearing solution, such as the following:
- A single hearing aid
- Two hearing aids
- CROS systems
- BiCROS systems
- Bone-conduction devices
- Bone-anchored implants
- Cochlear implant for single-sided deafness
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1. Jabra Enhance - Best for Streaming Media
See Pricing Links to Jabra EnhanceWhat we like most
- Sold in pairs only
- Mobile app for customization and remote adjustments
- Behind-the-ear devices
Jabra EnhanceSee Pricing Links to Jabra EnhanceOverview:
Jabra Enhance Select 300 hearing aids
Jabra Enhance is among our top picks for the best hearing aids because the brand offers a solid bang for your buck. They only sell their over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids in pairs, but we still believe the company is worth investigating for unilateral hearing loss. Its behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids offer direct streaming for calls, music, and other phone media. Even if you have hearing loss in just one ear, the hearing aid in your better ear can benefit from streaming media. It means you won’t need to choose between the hearing aid you need and the convenience of Bluetooth earbuds. Jabra Enhance delivers the best of both.
» Also Check Out: Best Bluetooth hearing aids of 2025
Even if you don’t plan to use direct streaming, Jabra Enhance hearing aids still have advantages for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. One of our go-to audiologists, Dr. Ruth Reisman, notes that “Jabra [Enhance] consistently delivers exceptional audio solutions that enhance productivity, entertainment, and communication clarity.”
Expert InsightsFrom Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,Jabra Enhance devices are great at meeting research-based targets for mild to moderate hearing loss, which can afford the patient significant clarity. The team at Jabra Enhance can be even more precise if you provide an audiogram from your audiologist.Pros & Cons:Pros About Jabra Enhance
- Mobile app for volume control and adjustments
- Bluetooth connectivity for streaming calls and music
- Three years of remote follow-up care with Premium packages
- 100-day money-back guarantee
- Financing available
Cons About Jabra Enhance
- Must be purchased as a pair
- Not for severe or profound hearing loss
- Not suitable for single-sided hearing loss due to a medical or surgical condition
Our Hands-on Experience:UHL Features and Sound Quality
The downside to Jabra Enhance for seniors with single-sided hearing loss is that you can’t buy just one device; you must buy a pair. Potential cost concerns aside, that doesn’t have to be negative. Jabra Enhance designs each BTE device for each ear. During testing, we could individually adjust the settings and volume on both ears to account for different levels of hearing loss. If we had any issues or wanted to further tailor to our specific hearing loss, we could make an on-demand appointment with Jabra Enhance’s audiology team for remote adjustments. We found the company’s audiologists knowledgeable, patient, and helpful.
You can easily schedule an appointment with a Jabra Enhance audiologist through the mobile app.
As we noted during our testing, Jabra Enhance makes connecting to Bluetooth-ready devices, like smartphones (including iPhones and select Android phones), tablets, computers, and smart TVs, easy. That means you can enjoy the same clarity of sound in both ears rather than hearing completely different sound quality and levels in each ear. We found that Jabra Enhance’s sound quality was richer and crisper, with less background noise than other OTC hearing aids, such as MDHearing.
» Our Full Review: Jabra Enhance hearing aids review 2025
Pricing
Jabra Enhance hearing aids cost $1,195 to $1,995 per pair. That may be more than you’d pay for budget-friendly brands like MDHearing, but considering their advanced technology and features, Jabra Enhance hearing aids are budget-friendly. They’re also much cheaper than prescription hearing aids from brands like Phonak and Signia.
» Our Pricing Guide: Jabra Enhance hearing aid costs and pricing
All packages also include three years of loss and damage protection, as well as three years of follow-up care with the Jabra Enhance audiology team. Plus, you can try Jabra Enhance for 100 days risk-free. That may make up for the hefty initial cost.
Did You Know? In November of 2022, Lively rebranded to Jabra Enhance. The company’s name may have changed, but its high-quality hearing aids have not!
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2. MDHearing - Most Flexibility
See Pricing Links to MDHearingWhat we like most
- Sold in singles or pairs
- No mobile app
- Behind-the-ear and in-ear devices
MDHearingSee Pricing Links to MDHearingOverview:
MDHearing's ITE hearing aids, including the NEO XS that we've tested, are small and discrete.
MDHearing offers two BTE hearing aids and two in-the-ear (ITE) models. They work for either one ear or both. Each hearing aid can be adjusted independently, which is ideal for one-sided hearing loss. Like Jabra Enhance, MDHearing devices are suitable only for mild to moderate hearing loss. If you have severe or profound hearing loss, consider a provider of prescription hearing aids such as Signia.
» Related Reading: Best hearing aids for severe hearing loss
For older adults who want a more discreet device, we recommend the NEO XS. It is marketed as an ITE, “invisible” hearing aid, but it’s more visible than similar options offered by Eargo (like the Eargo 7). After we had placed the NEO XS hearing aid in our ear, we noticed that much of the device was still visible. After talking with MDHearing tech-support reps (who were always exceptionally friendly and helpful), we realized we needed to change the domes.
» Related Reading: MDHearing hearing aid costs and pricing
This process may prove challenging for seniors with arthritis or those who struggle with fine motor skills. Once you get the hang of it, the NEO XS has a nice fit and offers solid sound quality. We also loved the portable charging case, which got our hearing aids up and running in under two hours.
Most of MDHearing's devices are rechargeable, including the NEO XS, which we tested.
Pros & Cons:Pros About MDHearing
- Competitive pricing and 45-day risk-free trial
- Feedback cancellation and noise reduction
- Battery-powered and rechargeable options
- Available in singles or pairs
- Lifetime support from audiologists and hearing specialists
Cons About MDHearing
- The best deals apply only to pairs
- No direct Bluetooth streaming
- Suitable only for mild to moderate hearing loss
Our Hands-on Experience:UHL Features and Sound Quality
Unlike Jabra Enhance and Eargo, MDHearing allows you to purchase its devices as a single or pair (we recommend purchasing a pair to save money). Features such as noise reduction, feedback cancellation, independent volume adjustments, and the ability to choose the battery type make MDHearing a wise solution for many seniors with single-sided hearing loss. The features can make it easier to manage your listening experience. You can enjoy music, movies, phone calls, and other sounds equally in both ears.
» Our Full Review: MDHearing reviews
Expert InsightsFrom Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,If you want to improve comfort levels with MDHearing aids, try using an open dome and lowering the volume. That may make it more comfortable to adapt to the hearing aid in the beginning.When we first started wearing MDHearing’s Volt devices, we noticed a feedback sound similar to white noise in each ear. We used the online chat feature to ask MDHearing about it, and a representative let us know that the noise would become less apparent over time, which it did. We found the Volt’s sound quality gentle and natural, but it wasn’t as cutting-edge and crisp as Jabra Enhance’s devices.
Pricing
MDHearing is a budget-friendly option with competitive and transparent pricing. The cost of a single hearing aid ranges from $397 to $597, but MDHearing runs year-round promotions that make it far cheaper to buy a pair, bringing prices down to $297 to $397 per pair. Purchasing a pair saves money and allows you to wear two hearing aids if desired. The hearing aids don’t have the most advanced features, but they’re thousands of dollars cheaper than top prescription hearing aid brands such as Phonak or Signia.
Did You Know? Cost prevents more than 25 percent of seniors from getting hearing aids. OTC providers such as MDHearing offer affordable alternatives for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.
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3. Eargo - Best for Tinnitus Relief
See Pricing Links to EargoWhat we like most
- Sold in pairs only
- Mobile app for customization and remote adjustments
- Completely-in-canal and earbud-style devices
EargoSee Pricing Links to EargoOverview:
Testing out Eargo 7 hearing aids
Like Jabra Enhance, Eargo sells its hearing aids in pairs only. Eargo’s completely-in-canal (CIC) and earbud-style models are a great choice if you have single-sided hearing loss and want a discreet hearing aid.
» You Might Like The best invisible hearing aids of 2025
The Eargo 6 and Eargo 7 models offer the most personalization options. Using the Eargo app’s Sound Match feature, we could personalize each hearing aid to meet our unique needs. It’s a great feature for seniors who have more significant hearing loss in one ear. We also loved the Link by Eargo earbud-style model. Rather than trying to hide your hearing loss with ITE models, you can simply appear to be listening to music with Bluetooth earbuds!
Dr. Reisman also ranked Eargo among the best providers for seniors seeking a balance between discretion and quality, noting that the Eargo 7 specifically offers a great “warranty, enhanced clarity, and better moisture resistance — a necessity with a completely-in-the-ear device.”
Pros & Cons:Pros About Eargo
- Advanced hearing technology
- Nearly invisible
- Flexible financing options and 45-day money-back guarantee
- Water-resistant technology with select models
- Telecare support
Cons About Eargo
- Must be purchased as a pair
- Only for mild to moderate high-frequency hearing loss
- Only ITE styles available
Our Hands-on Experience:UHL Features and Sound Quality
Unlike MDHearing, Eargo does not give you the option to buy a single hearing aid. That’s disappointing, especially considering the prices of some of the company’s ITE models are high for OTC devices. But if you’re looking for a CIC hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss, it fits the bill.
The Link by Eargo and Eargo SE are more affordable models, but the Eargo 6 and 7 are better options for seniors with UHL. The Sound Adjust+ feature automatically optimizes sounds in the surrounding environment, while the mobile app’s Sound Match feature customizes your hearing aids to your needs.
» Our Full Review: Eargo hearing aid review
We tried Sound Match when testing the Eargo 7 and Eargo 6. The test took around 20 minutes using the mobile app, and it tested our hearing one ear at a time to ensure that each hearing aid was customized to that ear’s hearing loss. The test was thorough, and we found that the listening experience and sound quality were better after using Sound Match.
Pricing
Eargo’s OTC hearing aids are priced between $799 and $2,699 per pair, with various financing options available. That makes it more expensive than the other OTC providers on our list, including Jabra Enhance and MDHearing, which are hundreds of dollars cheaper. That may seem pricey, but Eargo is still more affordable than prescription hearing aid providers like Phonak or Signia. Plus, Eargo is the most discreet OTC hearing aid provider on our list. If that’s important to you, it’s worth the cost.
» Learn More: Phonak vs. Starkey
Just remember that OTC hearing aids from brands like Eargo are suitable only for mild to moderate hearing loss. Prescription hearing aids are pricier, but they offer solutions for all levels of hearing loss. To learn more about OTC hearing aids and discover if they’re right for you, watch our video below with Dr. Reisman.
Dr. Ruth Reisman, a licensed audiologist and hearing aid dispenser, explains what you should know about OTC hearing aids. -
4. Phonak - Best for Extended Wear
See Pricing Links to ZipHearingWhat we like most
- Solutions for mild to profound hearing loss
- Rich sound quality
- Industry-leading technology
PhonakSee Pricing Links to ZipHearingOverview :
Phonak's Lyric hearing aid is 100 percent in-the-canal, making it completely invisible.
If you’re concerned about how just one hearing aid would look, you may want to consider Phonak’s prescription hearing aids, including the Lyric model. Lyric is a 100 percent in-the-canal hearing aid that you wear 24/7. Unlike other hearing aids, Lyric is inserted into your ear by a hearing professional. It stays in your ear for months, even as you sleep, shower, or wear headphones. You don’t need to recharge or change the batteries either. Instead, you’ll visit your audiologist before the battery dies to get a new Lyric device inserted or replace them yourself.
» Also Check Out: Best hearing aids for active lifestyles
Your hearing professional will program the Lyric devices to match your hearing loss. Even if your hearing loss is concentrated in one ear, wearing Lyric devices provides benefits such as sound localization and reduced feedback.3 Other Phonak models are available to purchase outright, but the Lyric is not. That may be a turn-off for seniors who prefer to own their hearing aids without an annual subscription. Phonak offers a variety of other hearing aids for mild to profound hearing loss suitable for UHL.
Phonak offers a variety of hearing aids for all levels of hearing loss.
Pros & Cons:Pros About Phonak
- Solutions for all levels of hearing loss
- Variety of styles
- Extended-wear technology
- Clear, natural sound
- Advanced noise cancellation and advanced noise cancellation
Cons About Phonak
- Lyric model is available only via annual subscription
- Lyric must be inserted by a hearing professional
- Prescription hearing aids that can’t be purchased online
Our Hands-on Experience:UHL Features and Sound Quality
Lyric delivers a natural sound while letting you wear accessories like headphones, glasses, or a helmet. The devices are safe in the shower but can’t be submerged in water. If you enjoy swimming, consider a different hearing device. Lyric is one of the best hearing aids for seniors with UHL who want to set it and forget it.
If you’re looking for a great all-around hearing aid for profound hearing loss, Dr. Reisman recommends the Phonak Naída Lumity BTE model. It includes Bluetooth, offers hands-free calling, and has Roger Focus compatibility for supporting seamless communication in all environments.
Pro Tip: Looking for more affordable hearing aid options than Phonak? Check out our guide to the best cheap hearing aid providers in 2025.
Phonak dedicates an entire page of its website to UHL, and the provider recommends several solutions depending on the severity of hearing loss in one ear. The Phonak Audéo Paradise is a high-quality BTE model that works well for aidable hearing loss in one ear and even includes advanced features, such as a voice assistant and health data tracking. If you have profound hearing loss in one ear that’s not aidable by a traditional hearing aid, Phonak offers the Roger Focus, which combines a contralateral routing of signals (CROS) hearing aid, microphone, and receiver to pick up sound directed to one ear and transmit it to the hearing aid in your good ear.4
» Our Full Review: Phonak hearing aid reviews
Pricing
Phonak offers prescription hearing aids that aren’t available online. You’ll need to visit a local hearing professional who sells Phonak devices to learn about pricing. Phonak Lyric is available only on a subscription basis, while the brand’s other hearing aids can be purchased outright.
» Learn More: Phonak pricing guide
Prices will vary by location and dispenser, but Dr. Reisman estimates that Phonak hearing aids cost between $1,000 and $3,750 per ear. Those prices are on par with other prescription brands like Signia but are much more expensive than OTC brands like MDHearing and Eargo. Phonak, however, offers solutions for all levels of hearing loss, while OTC brands don’t. Plus, they are much more customizable and include in-person care from a hearing specialist.
Phonak offers a variety of hearing aids for all levels of hearing loss.
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5. Signia - Best for an Instant Fit
See Pricing Links to ZipHearingWhat we like most
- Notch Therapy (NT) for tonal tinnitus
- Excellent styles and aesthetic appeal
- In-ear and BTE models
SigniaSee Pricing Links to ZipHearingOverview :
Trying out Signia's Silk hearing aids
Signia, one of the world’s largest hearing aid brands, offers many solutions for adults with single-sided hearing loss, including CROS devices. A CROS device is best suited for individuals with untreatable hearing loss in one ear and normal or near-normal hearing in the other. Signia’s CROS devices include BTE and ITE models, providing even more UHL-friendly options than Phonak.
» Compare Providers: Phonak vs. Signia
Pros & Cons:Pros About Signia
- Innovative solutions for all levels of hearing loss
- CROS accessories
- Manage audio settings and preferences with the Signia app
- Remote telehealth support available
- Instant fit
Cons About Signia
- Higher price point
- Requires in-office visit
Our Hands-on Experience:» Our Full Review: Signia hearing aid review
UHL Features and Sound Quality
Signia’s CROS Silk X hearing aids offer comfort and flexibility to seniors with unaidable UHL or single-sided deafness. The device sits in the ear canal, so you can use your phone as you normally would and wear over-ear headphones. Dr. Reisman said she loves Signia’s Silk series for their tinnitus benefits and “the ability to control the hearing aid microphones,” which is ideal for individuals with a combination of auditory processing disorders and normal hearing.
» Our Top Tinnitus Picks: Best hearing aids for tinnitus in 2025
Pricing
Similar to Phonak, Signia doesn’t advertise its prices online. Visit an audiologist or local hearing aid specialist to learn about the cost of the Signia device that best meets your needs. You can generally expect a single hearing device from Signia to cost somewhere between $1,000 and $3,500, similar to other prescription hearing aid providers, but much more expensive than OTC providers. As we’ve mentioned, prescription brands like Signia offer more custom-fit solutions for all levels of hearing loss. They may be worth it for people with UHL.
Pro Tip: Are you a caregiver to someone with hearing loss and dementia? Check out our guide to the best hearing aids for Alzheimer’s patients.
What Are CROS Hearing Aids?
CROS hearing aids are designed for older adults with normal or near-normal hearing in one ear and hearing loss in the other. CROS hearing aids consist of a transmitter with a microphone you wear on your ear with hearing loss and a receiver with a speaker you wear on your better ear. The transmitter picks up sounds on one side and delivers sounds to your other ear.
CROS hearing aids make it easy to hear conversations on your poorer side. They also help you pick up more environmental sounds, which can improve safety and awareness.
The Pros of CROS Hearing Aids
- Solution for UHL: With a CROS system, the microphone can pick up sounds on one side and transmit them to your good ear. That is a solution for single-sided hearing loss, without undergoing surgery or invasive treatments.
- Easier communication: When you can hear sound coming from both sides, like someone with good hearing in both ears, you can participate in group conversations without constantly turning your head to listen with your good ear. CROS ensures you don’t miss part of the conversation just because the sound came from one side or the other!
- Symmetry and balance: If you wear one hearing aid in your good ear, a CROS microphone can provide balance by placing a microphone device in your ear with hearing loss. That can increase comfort levels and eliminate the lopsided feeling that occurs when wearing a device in only one ear.
- Enhanced safety: When you can’t hear well in one ear, it can be more challenging to know when a threat or potential hazard is nearby. If someone is shouting your name or knocking at the door, a CROS system increases the chances you’ll hear it, regardless of which ear is facing the direction the sound is coming from.
Pro Tip: If you’re struggling to speak to a loved one with hearing loss, check out our hearing loss statistics guide for tips and best practices!
The Cons of CROS Hearing Aids
- Can’t restore hearing: A CROS microphone can act as a surrogate eardrum, but it can’t restore hearing. It is simply a way to transmit audio input from your ear with hearing loss to your ear without hearing loss.
- Require an adjustment period: Like any hearing device, CROS hearing aids take time to get used to. CROS systems can be exceptionally challenging, as they require adults to adjust their listening habits and how they interpret sounds, particularly with sound localization.
- Can be difficult to locate sounds: When all or most of the sounds you hear are being transmitted to one ear, it can be challenging to know where they are coming from. Even as you adjust to the new way of listening, it can be a struggle to identify the source of certain noises when they all come through your ear with full hearing.
- May result in sound overload: Since all sounds are being transmitted to the hearing aid in your unaffected ear, it could result in a sound overload. That is particularly true in busy environments, and it could be uncomfortable or confusing when transitioning from quiet to loud settings.
What Are BiCROS Hearing Aids?
BiCROS hearing aids are another option for those with single-sided deafness. They work similarly to CROS hearing aids, but they’re for individuals who experience hearing loss in their better ear, too. A BiCROS hearing aid will amplify sounds in your better ear and transmit sounds from your deaf ear to your better ear. Both sides have a microphone, and the sounds get sent to the receiver in the better ear.
Quick Tip: Have questions about hearing aid technology? Check out our guide to how hearing aids work for answers.
Are CROS Hearing Aids Right for Me?
CROS hearing aids can be a great option if you have severe or profound hearing loss in one ear. A CROS system can help you hear sounds from multiple directions, enhancing your ability to communicate and interact with your environment safely. However, CROS hearing aids can be more expensive and require more adjustment than conventional hearing aids.
We think CROS hearing aids are best for:
- Older adults with severe or profound hearing loss in one ear
- Anyone with UHL who wants to improve communication and sound localization
- Seniors who are willing and able to pay more for their hearing aids
- Those who are concerned about UHL affecting their safety
FYI: Profound hearing loss often requires a prescription, behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. Check out our guide to the best BTE hearing aids to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Aids for One-Sided Hearing Loss
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Do hearing aids help single-sided deafness?
Hearing aids may help individuals with single-sided deafness and hearing loss, but it depends on the severity of the unilateral hearing loss. An audiologist can help determine what type of assistive hearing device, if any, could help you hear better.
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Is it OK to wear only one hearing aid?
If you have hearing loss in one ear and normal hearing in the other ear, wearing one hearing aid is sufficient.3 Most individuals with age-related hearing loss experience hearing loss in both ears, even if it’s of varying severity in each ear. Research suggests that these individuals are more satisfied with two hearing aids.
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What type of hearing aid is best for single-sided hearing loss?
The right solution for single-sided hearing loss depends on the severity of the loss. If you have nonfunctional hearing in one ear, CROS or BiCROS devices can be effective. Regular hearing aids may be sufficient for mild to severe single-sided hearing loss.
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Will a hearing aid cure my single-sided hearing loss?
No. Hearing aids cannot cure hearing loss, but wearing hearing aids can help you hear better.
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Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Unilateral Hearing Loss (Single-Sided Deafness)
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The Hearing Journal. (2015). Single-Sided Deafness Causes, and Solutions, Take Many Forms.
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Harvard Health Publishing. (2019). One hearing aid or two?
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Phonak. (2024). Hearing aids.
