Angel Barbero*

Department of Audiology, Audiocenter, Audiocenter Sevilla, Seville, Spain

*Corresponding Author: Angel Barbero, Department of Audiology, Audiocenter, Audiocenter Sevilla, Seville, Spain.

Received: October 08, 2025; Published: October 16, 2025

Abstract

This article discusses three recent innovations in the field of audiology that are changing conventional clinical practices. The Nuance Audio hearing aid integrates acoustic amplification into an optical frame, offering patients aesthetic discretion and functionality for early/middle hearing losses. Until now, most patients with these small levels of hearing loss (early/middle) barely used any type of hearing aid because the stigma of using hearing aids was a bigger barrier for them than the communication difficulties caused by their incipient deafness. Now, with the use of Nuance Audio, these users have a new, aesthetically appropriate solution at their disposal, meaning they no longer have to live without a hearing aid. The Natus Otoscan 3D scanner digitally captures the morphology of the ear using laser beams to reconstruct it in 3D, facilitating the production of more accurate earmolds. Previously, ear molds were made by injecting silicone into the ear using a syringe. This posed a significant risk due to the risk of the silicone touching the eardrum. Now, thanks to Otoscan 3D, ear measurements can be taken without using silicone. We simply illuminate the ear canal with a laser to generate an accurate 3D image. The Interacoustics ACT test assesses the audible contrast threshold in noise, providing an additional parameter for adjusting advanced hearing aid features. Previously, hearing aid fittings were performed using traditional voice or tone audiometry, either in a booth or in a free field. This required simulating ambient noise, which was not standardized and varied in its definition and results. Now, with ACT, it can be quickly and accurately integrated into the test battery alongside tone audiometry.
The advantages, limitations, and potential clinical scenarios of each innovation are discussed. We conclude that these three technologies are replacing conventional uses, integrating into the audiological clinical workflow to offer more individualized and efficient fittings.

Keywords: Hearing Glasses; NuanceAudio; 3D Scanner; Otoscan; ACT Test; Audible Contrast

References

1. “EssilorLuxottica Receives FDA Clearance for Its Nuance Audio Glasses”. Reuters (2025).
2. “ACT: Conversaciones ahora más claras”. Interacoustics.
3. “Prueba de Umbral de Contraste Audible ACT”. Interacoustics.
4. “Otoscan – Solución de escaneo 3D del oído”. Natus.
5. Nuance Audio. “Gafas auditivas | Nuance Audio”.

Citation

Citation: Angel Barbero. “Three Tools Audiologists Are Using in 2025 to Improve their Clinical Care"Acta Scientific Otolaryngology 7.11 (2025): 12-14.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Angel Barbero. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.