Good news for people with hearing impairments who have hesitated to wear traditional hearing aids due to discomfort and the attention of others. EssilorLuxottica, based in France, announced that its eyeglass-shaped hearing aid 'Nuance Audio' has been approved for sale by authorities in the United States and Italy, and will be available in those countries from the first quarter of 2025.

Nuance Audio is indistinguishable from regular glasses in appearance, so it does not reveal that the wearer is hearing impaired. Unlike conventional hearing aids that are inserted into the ear canal, it does not compress the ear canal, improving comfort.

The device is equipped with special equipment that amplifies sounds within 3 meters of the wearer, and transmits sound through a small speaker attached to the inside of the temple of the glasses. Users with poor eyesight can replace the lenses for their needs, and 3 hours of charging allows for 8 hours of use.

EssilorLuxottica expects Nuance Audio to overcome the shortcomings of existing hearing aids and meet the needs of people experiencing hearing loss.