Performance measures of the Nuance AudioTM Glasses: behavioral outcomes and real ear measures

Introduction Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing devices were introduced for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, and can be purchased without a hearing assessment or device prescription from a hearing health care provider. The Nuance Audio TM Glasses are approved as software as a medical device OTC hearing aids in the United States, but come in a novel form factor, with the components of digital hearing aids embedded in the frames of eyeglasses, without any components entering the ears themselves. This in-lab study applied an outcome test battery, typically used for traditional hearing aid studies, to evaluate the device with a group of OTC candidates. Method A total of 21 adult participants with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss completed the test battery. Speech recognition in noise was assessed in steady-state noise using the American English Matrix test and in multi-talker babble at two signal-to-babble ratios (0 dB and −3 dB) using the Connected Speech Test. Participants provided ratings of subjective listening effort in multi-talker babble using a 7-point scale. Real ear measures of the device were completed as a means to evaluate the aided response and speech-intelligibility-index value for the participants. Results Speech recognition, measured by the Matrix and the CST, was significantly better with the Nuance device than in the unaided condition. Listening effort in noise was significantly reduced with the device on compared to the unaided condition. Real ear measures showed the device provided gain from 750-6,000 Hz and the measured Speech Intelligibility Index scores were significantly better in the aided conditions compared to the unaided condition. Discussion The findings suggest that Nuance Audio Glasses provide improved access to speech, leading to significantly better speech recognition and reduced listening effort in noise. These outcomes suggest this device may be an effective strategy for adults with perceived bilateral mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss.