International Licensing Examination (ILE) Practice Test

In a BiCROS fitting, what is typically true about the ears involved?

1. Both ears have normal hearing

2. One ear is unaidable and the other requires amplification

3. Both ears are equally compromised in hearing

4. Only one ear is evaluated for hearing loss

The correct answer is: One ear is unaidable and the other requires amplification

In a BiCROS fitting, the configuration typically involves one ear that has significant hearing loss but is aided, and another ear that is unaidable. This means that one ear is able to receive sound through amplification due to its hearing loss, while the other ear, which has little to no usable hearing, does not benefit from any hearing aid. This arrangement allows the wearer to hear sounds from both sides, although the sound from the unaidable ear is transmitted to the aided ear. The key feature of a BiCROS system is that it uniquely accommodates individuals with a hearing loss in one ear while having a non-functional ear. This is different from options that suggest both ears are functional, equally compromised, or only focusing on one ear for evaluation, as each of those scenarios does not reflect the specific need for amplification in one ear while compensating for the lack of hearing capability in the other.