CROS/BiCROS

CROS/BiCROS customizes the patient's receiver aid based on his/her lifestyle by configuring the mode for each memory and adjusting the level of sounds coming from the transmitter relative to the receiver aid. Any adjustments can be demonstrated live to the patient through his/her receiver aid to ensure the changes are acceptable. CROS/BiCROS is only available for wireless Pride premium, high, and mid tier standard products.

Three memory modes are available: Hearing Aid Only, CROS, and BiCROS. Hearing Aid Only enables all microphones on the receiver aid and disables audio streaming from the transmitter. CROS disables all microphones on the receiver aid and enables audio picked up from the microphones on the transmitter to be streamed to the receiver aid. BiCROS enables all microphones on both the receiver aid and transmitter and enables audio streaming from the transmitter. Mute, Streaming, Stream Boost, Loop, and all Telephone memories are automatically set to Hearing Aid Only and cannot be changed. The mode can be also be selected or changed via most Fitting and Advanced Tools screens. In addition, an icon displays in the upper right hand corner of most fitting graphs indicating the mode (CROS or BiCROS) for the selected memory.

If the patient can adjust the volume, how the VC functions is based on the mode selected for the memory. If Hearing Aid Only is selected, only the volume on the receiver aid will be adjusted, if CROS is selected, only the streaming volume will be adjusted, and if BiCROS is selected, both the volume on the receiver aid and transmitter will be adjusted.

The BiCROS balance control feature adjusts the loudness ratio between the audio streamed from the transmitter and the audio from the microphones on the receiver aid. Balance adjustments can be made in 2 dB increments with a total range of 10 dB (-5 to 5 dB). Adjustments can only be made to memories configured for BiCROS mode but any change applies to all BiCROS memories. The patient can also control the balance manually if either the transmitter or receiver is configured with a rocker switch or push button and Balance is enabled via User Controls.

During a live demonstration, the fitting session is temporarily suspended allowing the patient to change memories, hear indicators, and adjust the volume or balance, if applicable. If the Memory/Home and CROS Stream Start indicators are enabled via Indicators, these signals will be presented to the patient when the demo begins if the memory selected in Inspire prior to starting the demo is configured for CROS or BiCROS. If the Volume/Balance Control indicator is enabled, this signal will be presented if the volume or balance is adjusted, and if the CROS Stream Stop indicator is enabled, this signal will only be presented when the demo stops if the aids are connected to a wired programmer (SpeedPort 2, USB Hi-Pro 2, or USB Hi-Pro). Once the demo stops, the hearing aids are set back to their previous settings and the fitting session continues.

  1. Connect and select the desired hearing aid(s) to adjust via Get Started.

  2. Click on the Read Device Settings or Load a Previous Session radio button and then click .

  3. Click CROS/BiCROS.

  4. Click on the specific memory to adjust if applicable or click to adjust all memories simultaneously.

  5. Click on the radio button representing the desired mode.

  6. Repeat steps 4-5 to adjust additional memories if desired.

  7. To adjust the level of sounds coming from the transmitter relative to the receiver aid, click on a memory configured for BiCROS.

  8. Drag the slider bar or click on the tick mark to adjust the balance level between the transmitter and the receiver aid.

    Note:  The level selected (e.g., 1, 2, etc.) displays below the slider bar.

  9. Click Demo to demonstrate any adjustments.

    Note:  This button is only enabled during a live fitting and for all memories except Stream Boost. If custom hearing aids are connected to a wired programmer, a message that batteries must be inserted displays. Insert batteries if necessary and click OK.

  10. Begin talking to the patient. Instruct the patient to change memories or adjust the volume or balance as needed, if applicable.

  11. Click Return to Fitting to stop the demonstration.

    Note:  If the devices cannot be reconnected, a message displays. Check the connection, open the battery door and then close it, or return the hearing aid(s) within range of the SurfLink Programmer and click Reconnect, or click Exit Session to save the session and return to the Get Started screen.
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