The hearing aid market in the U.S. is in the midst of a significant shift. In late 2022, the FDA created a new over-the-counter category of devices. The U.S. government's goal with the new category was to drive innovation and competition. So far, the move has brought new audio brands like Jabra, Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser into the mix. That's significant progress for consumers, but most of the new products have been derivative of products that existed before 2022. No true game-changers.
That might be about to change.
The largest eyewear maker in the world, EssilorLuxottica, has announced that they are working on a category-shifting technology that blends eyeglasses with hearing aids.
Last month EssilorLuxottica showcased their progress at a sleek booth at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show. The product likely won't be out until later this year but people with hearing loss are already getting excited.
Here's what we know so far. 👇
Hearing aids in glasses aren't a new idea.
Eyeglasses with built-in hearing aids are not a new idea. The concept was mainstream in the 70's and 80's but ran into issues of reliability, complex repairs, and sluggish overall adoption. To be fair, 40 years is an eternity in the world of technology.
EssilorLuxotica's ambitions to blend sight and sound revolve around acquiring an Israeli startup called Nuance Audio. Nuance started in 2015 when two brothers set out to solve the age-old "cocktail party problem". They developed impressive beam-forming technology that isolates audio in front of the listener while reducing background noise. Nuance did not have a widely available product, but Essilor Luxottica saw an opportunity to co-create one.
In July 2023, EssilorLuxottica bought the company and quickly unveiled a master plan to bring eyeglasses and hearing aids into one product.
While the idea of a hearing aid and glasses duo is big news for the hearing health community, it's part of the broader smart glasses tech trend. Bose, Snapchat, and Ray Ban (owned by EssilorLuxottica) all have their own smart glasses with built-in speakers and cameras.
It's a logical step to consider how this emerging tech could solve a massive hearing problem for hundreds of millions around the world.
Will hearing aid glasses actually work this time?
Hearing aid glasses have a clunky past, but if EssilorLuxottica can keep the ear canal open and figure out the right mix of battery life and processing power, this product could be very exciting for anyone with mild-moderate hearing loss.
One important challenge could be for anyone who wears multiple glasses (sunglasses, bifocals, etc.). Maybe EssilorLuxottica has some creative engineering up its sleeve to solve this problem.
If these glasses do work, expect a stampede of new products from hearing health leaders like Sonova, GN and WS Audiology.
When will the new hearing aid glasses be available?
Rumors are that EssilorLuxottica could announce a product by the end of 2024. Early versions might take a year or two to refine and improve before they see mass-market adoption.
Of course, we'll keep this guide updated as we learn more in the coming year.
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