Why mild to moderate hearing loss should be treated early on

Hearing loss continues to be one of the most common chronic health impairments worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1.6 billion people currently live with some degree of hearing loss, and this figure is expected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050^1,2. The majority - around 1.2 billion people - have mild to moderate hearing loss². The prevalence increases significantly with age - more than one in four adults over 60 is affected¹. While severe hearing impairments are widely recognized and treated, mild to moderate impairments often remain undetected and untreated despite their measurable impact on everyday functions.

„Mild to moderate hearing loss should not be dismissed as a minor impairment,“ explains Dr. Tami Harel-Arbeli, Head of Audiology at Nuance Audio, EssilorLuxottica. „Scientific evidence shows that even early changes increase listening effort and cognitive load. Timely detection and intervention are crucial to maintaining communication skills, performance and social participation.“

Hearing effort and everyday functions

The onset of hearing loss often manifests itself in difficulties understanding speech in noisy environments or an increased need for repetition³. Studies show that when hearing clarity decreases, the brain has to work harder to understand speech - especially in busy or complex environments⁴. Population-based studies also show that people with hearing loss are more likely to report increased fatigue⁵. These results make it clear that even slight changes in hearing can have a relevant impact on everyday life, communication and performance.

Delayed care and double sensory challenges

Despite early symptoms, hearing care is often postponed for years. Studies show that it can take up to nine years on average between the diagnosis of hearing loss and the actual fitting of hearing aids⁶. Untreated hearing loss is associated with reduced social participation and increased emotional stress.

In addition, hearing loss often occurs together with age-related visual changes. Studies show that people with combined hearing and visual impairments - such as presbyacusis (age-related hearing loss) and presbyopia (age-related sight loss) - have poorer psychosocial and functional outcomes than people with a sensory deficit alone⁷. This underlines the relevance of integrated care approaches, especially in an ageing population.

„As life expectancy increases, sensory changes are on the rise and are increasingly interrelated,“ says Olga Prenat, Global Head of Medical & Professional Affairs at EssilorLuxottica. „World Hearing Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of evidence-based measures. Sight and hearing are key senses for communication and independence - an integrated approach is therefore crucial.“

Rethinking early hearing support

Many people with hearing loss are reluctant to receive hearing care - partly due to stigmatization, comfort concerns, costs or limited accessibility⁸. With Nuance Audio, EssilorLuxottica is pursuing the goal of reducing the hurdles. The almost invisible open-ear hearing solution is integrated directly into glasses and combines hearing support and vision correction in a single solution that is suitable for everyday use.

Nuance Audio has been specially developed for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The focus is on improving speech understanding and reducing listening effort in noisy environments. Clinical studies show a significant increase in speech intelligibility in extreme noise conditions (29 % more words understood) and a significant reduction in subjective perceived listening effort in realistic noise situations (32 % less listening effort) with Nuance Audio⁹.

„With Nuance Audio, we are shaping the future of early hearing care,“ says Stefano Genco, Global Head of Nuance Audio at EssilorLuxottica. „Our ambition is to make hearing support as natural and effortless as wearing glasses - so that people with mild to moderate hearing loss can stay active, safe and connected and enjoy their lives unimpaired.“

Call for proactive hearing care

On World Hearing Day 2026, Nuance Audio aims to raise awareness of mild to moderate hearing loss as a clinically relevant condition that requires proactive, early care. Integrating hearing care into holistic strategies for healthy ageing will be crucial to maintaining communication skills, independence and quality of life in the long term.

Notes:

Nuance Audio Glasses are not available in all countries.

1. World Health Organization. Deafness and hearing loss [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; February 26, 2025 [cited March 3, 2026]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss
2. World Health Organization. World report on hearing. World Health Organization; March 3, 2021.
3. National Institute on Aging. Hearing and hearing loss [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute on Aging Research; [cited March 3, 2026]. Available from: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hearing-and-hearing-loss
4. Peelle JE. Auditory effort: How the cognitive consequences of auditory challenges are reflected in brain and behavior. Ear and Hearing. March 1, 2018; 39(2):204-14.
5. Jiang K, Spira AP, Lin FR, Deal JA, Reed NS. Hearing loss and fatigue in middle-aged and older adults. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Aug 1, 2023;149(8):758-60.
6. Simpson AN, Matthews LJ, Cassarly C, Dubno JR. Time between hearing aid decision and hearing aid purchase: a longitudinal cohort study. Ear and Hearing. May 1, 2019; 40(3):468-76.
7. Bright T, Ramke J, Zhang JH, Kitema GF, Safi S, Mdala S, Yoshizaki M, Brennan-Jones CG, Mactaggart I, Gordon I, Swenor BK. Prevalence and impact of combined visual and hearing impairment (dual sensory impairment): A review. PLOS Global Public Health. May 16, 2023; 3(5):e0001905.
8. Franks, I., & Timmer, B. H. B. (2023). Reasons for non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, former users and family members. International Journal of Audiology, 63(10), 794-801.
9. The clinical results mentioned are based on clinical studies conducted at Western University (Canada) and the National Acoustic Laboratories (Australia). Data from EssilorLuxottica, 2025.

Source: www.essilorluxottica.com