A patient with single-sided deafness (SSD) and intact contralateral hearing is best rehabilitated with which device?
- A Conventional hearing aid on the deaf side
- B Cochlear implant is absolutely contraindicated
- C BAHA (bone-anchored hearing aid) or CROS aid ✓
- D Contralateral routing of signals (CROS) hearing aid — the only option
Correct answer: C. BAHA (bone-anchored hearing aid) or CROS aid
Explanation
In single-sided deafness, a conventional air-conduction hearing aid provides no benefit because the cochlea is non-functional. BAHA works by bone conduction routing sound to the contralateral cochlea; a CROS aid routes sound from the dead side to a receiver in the hearing ear. Cochlear implantation is increasingly used in SSD and not absolutely contraindicated. Hence B correctly identifies both principal options.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.