Since the US Food and Drug Administration approved a category of hearing aids that can be sold to consumers without a doctor’s prescription, companies have found new ways to provide people with over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
In an attempt to make hearing devices more accessible and stylish, EssilorLuxottica, the manufacturer behind eyewear brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, introduced Nuance Audio, a pair of glasses that can address sight issues and mild hearing loss.
The Nuance Audio glasses weren’t as heavy on my face as my Ray-Ban Meta, but they were heavier than my daily glasses, likely because they have speakers and microphones inside that add to the weight. The arms of the glasses are thicker for the mics and speakers. After a few hours, I felt some discomfort behind my ears.
The microphones on the Nuance Audio frames resemble the decorative accents on my Ray-Bans.
Jada Jones/ZDNET
In the noisy bar, I had more trouble hearing a person speaking to me, even after toggling audio, microphone, and volume settings. The glasses picked up the bartender taking orders and clinking glasses, the couple having a conversation behind me, and the traffic sounds from the street. All the sounds were amplified, but none were particularly clear, meaning I was quickly overwhelmed.
In every environment, I asked people if they could hear the sounds coming from my glasses. Each time, the person said no, unless they put their ear to mine. At a normal distance, others shouldn’t hear your amplified audio, adding to the glasses’ discretion.
Overall, noisy environments challenged the Nuance Audio glasses, so wearing them in a busy bar with loud music, at a concert, or to a sporting event may hinder your ability to focus on one specific person or sound.
However, people who have difficulty participating in group conversations during family gatherings or dinners out with friends due to their hearing loss may find the Nuance Audio glasses helpful. They could make social gatherings easier to navigate.
How’s the app experience?
The Nuance Audio glasses connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth, and the Nuance Audio app is available on Android and iOS. In the app, you can toggle background noise levels, the glasses’ volume, audio presets, and whether the microphones should pick up noise from in front of you or all around you.
hearing glasses could be a great option for adults with mild hearing loss who want an unassuming and stylish alternative to traditional in-ear hearing aids. The glasses’ companion app is easy to navigate, and they’re widely available in most local optical retailers.
If traditional in-ear OTC hearing aids aren’t to your style, you should give these a shot. The only drawback is their short battery life, as most people wear their corrective lenses for more than six to eight hours a day.
