Paving the way for a disruptive new category in the med-tech space, Nuance Audio Glasses are FDA-registered over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, allowing consumers to address their hearing needs without requiring a prescription or an audiologist visit.
“After decades of adoption barriers ranging from comfort to visibility, consumers will finally be able to see clearly and hear clearly, with a single product that is both beautiful and highly functional. Nuance Audio represents a breakthrough in hearing solutions, removing traditional barriers of stigma, cost, and accessibility,” says Stefano Genco, Head of Nuance Audio. “By integrating this technology into stylish eyewear, we are offering a discreet, comfortable, and high-quality solution that helps people stay engaged in their daily lives."
In the US market, Nuance Audio Glasses are available now at LensCrafters, Target Optical, Pearle Vision, and other authorized optical and audiology practices and retailers. The glasses retail for approximately one-quarter of the average price of traditional prescription hearing aids. Nuance Audio Glasses will also become available in certain European countries in the first half of 2025, including Italy, France, Germany, and the UK.
According to EssilorLuxottica, the US hearing solutions market remains underserved, much like the vision market decades ago, where consumers are often hesitant to wear corrective devices due to factors such as stigma, discomfort, cost, and limited accessibility. Nuance Audio Glasses aim to break down these barriers, offering a discreet, stylish, and functional solution for the approximately 73 million Americans who experience mild to moderate hearing loss.
"At EssilorLuxottica, we are committed to leveraging innovation to enhance people's lives," adds Genco. "Hearing loss can be an isolating challenge, and we believe technology should bring people closer, not set them apart. Nuance Audio Glasses seamlessly integrate hearing support into stylish eyewear, giving people the freedom to see and hear with confidence."
Nuance Audio glasses integrate hearing enhancement into a lightweight, stylish frame, using directional microphones and open-ear speakers to provide a natural listening experience. Beamforming technology helps focus on the sound sources the user looks at, while reducing background noise interference. In noisy social environments, such as restaurants, the directional microphones allow users to focus on the voices and conversations, while breaking the stigma with discreet, stylish glasses that seamlessly integrate vision and hearing support.
Similar in weight to regular eyeglasses, the Nuance Audio glasses ensure maximum comfort for extended use, and users can simply set up their listening experience via the Nuance Audio App. An essential complement for the Nuance Audio Glasses, the app is mandatory for audio calibration and firmware updates, and allows users to personalize the Nuance Audio experience, including customizing the level of background noise reduction, switching between Frontal Mode, and All-Around Mode, which amplifies all surrounding sounds, and adjusting amplification levels on a scale from 1 to 5.
Nuance Audio Glasses are for now available in two styles (Square 54/56 and Panthos 48) and two colors (Shiny Black and Shiny Burgundy) to complement any look. The glasses also include a folded case with a cleaning cloth, plus a charging pad with a cable. A Nuance Audio remote control can be purchased separately. Consumers can customize their Nuance Audio glasses with their preferred prescription optical lenses, including a wide range of Transitions lenses for adaptive light control.
www.essilorluxottica.com
