Hearing aids built into glasses: Nuance Audio

Hearing aid options for glasses wearers

There are several questions I receive almost daily at Dr Yovina Audiology. Many of them include, ‘will hearing aids affect how my glasses sit?’ or ‘can I have hearing aids that are built into the arm of my glasses?’. In truth, all modern hearing aids do sit comfortably next to a pair of glasses. However, until now, we have never had a truly successful option for hearing technology built into glasses.

What are Nuance Audio glasses?

The Nuance Audio glasses, developed by eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica were first released in 2025 as the first hearing solution truly joining together the worlds of optometry and audiology. This innovative solution includes hearing technology fully integrated into the arm of a pair of glasses, making them a great option for anyone feeling apprehensive about the visual aspect of a pair of hearing aids.

An important distinction is that Nuance Audio is an over-the-counter hearing solution rather than a prescribed hearing aid. This means it isn’t individually programmed and verified against your hearing loss in the same way that a professionally fitted hearing aid would be. Instead, Nuance Audio provides adjustable amplification alongside features designed to improve listening in different environments. Think of it similar to the effect of turning up the volume on your TV, but with some added benefits like background noise reduction. They really are a great midpoint between having a prescribed pair of hearing aids compared to nothing at all. So, if you have a mild to moderate level of hearing loss and have felt hearing aids are too much of a big step, this may be your perfect solution.

How do Nuance Audio glasses work?

The hearing glasses themselves feature tiny speakers built into the arms of the glasses right above your ears, meaning there is nothing sitting within the ear. This means the glasses are purely providing you with an amplification boost, whilst keeping your ears open for natural sound and ventilation. This is particularly useful for anyone who doesn’t like, or feels uncomfortable, with the sensation of something in their ears. However, because the sound is delivered from speakers within the arms of the glasses rather than directly into the ear canal, the listening experience is different from a conventional hearing aid. This means that, in more complex environments, particularly where there are multiple competing speakers, you may still find that speech clarity is challenging.

What do you get with Nuance Audio glasses?

I have to say, Nuance Audio glasses really do have a choice of colour and style of frame to suit everyone. Whether you prefer round or square frames, black or something more colourful, they have a style to suit you. If you do require prescriptive lenses, they can also be fitted onto the hearing glasses. The glasses themselves come with a charging mat and a glasses case to keep them secure. The battery lasts for 8 hours with continuous use and takes 3 hours to charge fully.

The Nuance Audio app

The Nuance Audio app, designed to be used with the glasses, allows you to make adjustments to the sound in real time. These adjustments include personalised calibration and background noise controls. The glasses are designed to work best with the app so without it you do lose significant functionality. Nuance Audio themselves recommend that to have the best experience you should have your smartphone with you whilst wearing the glasses. This is so that you can adjust your settings based on your environment.

How much do Nuance Audio glasses cost?

In the UK, you can expect to pay anywhere between £700 and £1,000 for a pair of Nuance Audio glasses, depending on where you purchase them. If you require prescriptive lenses, they will be at an additional cost. They can be ordered directly from the Nuance Audio website, or if you would like to try them in person before purchasing, a store locator on their website is available to help you find the closest physical location.

My experience with Nuance Audio

I was lucky enough to be invited to host the launch of the Nuance Audio glasses in central London last year and therefore was able to try them on myself. In my experience, Nuance Audio glasses provide a fantastic first step on the way to prescriptive hearing aids. Whether you don’t feel ready for hearing aids or you don’t like the way they look, I always feel that something is better than nothing. The Nuance Audio glasses are a great option for that ‘something’. My own dad has a mild hearing loss and happily used the glasses for a while before taking the next step to a pair of hearing aids.

Watch my dad’s review of Nuance Audio glasses vs. his hearing aids

In summary, having had personal experience with the Nuance Audio glasses, I can recommend them as a good over the counter option for anyone with a mild to moderate hearing loss. If you don’t feel ready for prescriptive hearing aids, they are stylish, comfortable and safe to use. For the best experience I would recommend trying them in store.