Glasses that help you hear?!
Blog Vol 7.5. Glasses that help you hear?!
New to the world of eyewear!! Assistive listening glasses! Previously there were glasses with receivers mounted in the temples of the spectacle frame with hearing aids coming off the ends which were then inserted into the ears. These worked for some people but obviously did not catch on. Now a company called Nuance has developed a spectacle frame with built-in, inconspicuous, no-way-to-tell-they-are-hearing-aids speakers.
With the help of a microchip, we can now pick up sound with micro-receivers embedded in arm of the spectacle frame, then modify and amplify to meet challenging hearing environments. The Nuance spectacle has all this, and it is customizable with a phone app. So cool. You look like you are checking your text messages, but you are really adjusting your sound levels. Of course, this device does not replace an audiology test and hearing aids that are prescribed specifically for you, but it is a discreet, convenient, and easy way to increase the volume a little. The idea of invisible hearing assistance, like an invisible bifocal (progressives) in your glasses for reading, is appealing. Sounds great…
We already know what glasses can do to improve access to our visual worlds, could this frame from Nuance improve access to the audio world too? Prescription lenses, whatever lenses you normally have, can be put into the frame.
The main limitation to the Nuance frame is its relatively short battery life. Another limitation noted by some reviewers is that you cannot stream with the device (personally, I am glad of this, too many people are not present in the moment already). The second main limitation is fashion. The frame presently comes in two universal styles with a variety of colours. That said, the best way to know if this frame will work for you is to come in and try a pair. They can be adjusted to enable listening in a specific situation, like in a restaurant, but they do not meet all audiology needs nor are they meant to.
It is worth repeating: this device does not replace routine audiology testing. Hearing is so key to staying connected. Staying connected is key to health, physical and mental.
Really great idea, we’ll see if they work for people.
Come in and give them a try
the good doctor
