Unilateral hearing loss can present challenges for adults and children, especially for those with limited useable hearing in one ear. Non-surgical options for managing significant unilateral hearing loss include remote microphone and CROS systems. Although remote microphone systems are often the preferred choice for school-aged children, CROS systems have the potential to help adults and children in a variety of listening situations. Through a combination of case study and research examination, this course will focus on the challenges people with limited useable hearing in one ear might face and the potential benefits of non-surgical intervention systems. Importantly, some of the recent research findings challenge the long-held assumptions about listening challenges and potential interventions for people with limited useable hearing in one ear, requiring audiologists and scientists to update their thinking about unilateral hearing loss and CROS systems.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe potential consequences of unilateral hearing loss for school-aged children
• Discuss the potential benefits of CROS systems for school-aged children
• Describe potential consequences of unilateral hearing loss for adults
• Discuss the potential benefits of CROS systems for adults