ZDNET's key takeaways The Nuance Audio hearing glasses are available in two styles and colors for $1,200 at participating retailers.
They provide a stylish and discreet way to aid mild to moderate hearing loss.
However, they provide six to eight hours of battery life and a three-hour charging period, which might frustrate power users. View now at Nuance Audio
Since the US Food and Drug Administration approved a category of hearing aids that can be sold to consumers without a doctor's prescription, companies have found new ways to provide people with over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids.
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In an attempt to make hearing devices more accessible and stylish, EssilorLuxottica, the manufacturer behind eyewear brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, introduced Nuance Audio, a pair of glasses that can address sight issues and mild hearing loss.
I've followed Nuance Audio since I demoed the product at CES in January and tested the glasses more thoroughly over the last two weeks to assess their performance. Although I don't have a diagnosis for hearing loss, I can tell you my experience. Here's what you should know.
Wait, those are hearing aids?
Nuance Audio's mission is to provide wearers with an all-in-one device that aids eyesight and hearing corrections in a stylish and discreet design. These glasses don't look like hearing aids. I wore the Panthos 48 style in Shiny Burgundy, and they look almost identical to the Ray-Bans I wear every day.
The Nuance Audio glasses weren't as heavy on my face as my Ray-Ban Meta, but they were heavier than my daily glasses, likely because they have speakers and microphones inside that add to the weight. The arms of the glasses are thicker for the mics and speakers. After a few hours, I felt some discomfort behind my ears.
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