AI-Powered Accessible Hearing Care for Everyone

Able Glasses are an innovative assistive technology solution designed to improve hearing accessibility for individuals experiencing hearing loss. Many people with hearing impairments face barriers when using traditional hearing aids due to medical conditions, comfort issues, cost, or social stigma. In particular, individuals with mixed or conductive hearing loss caused by conditions such as chronic ear discharge or structural deformities of the ear may not be able to use conventional in-ear hearing aids. These limitations can significantly impact communication, social participation, and overall quality of life.

Able Glasses address these challenges by integrating hearing support directly into a pair of smart glasses. The device transmits sound through the mastoid bone to the cochlea using bone conduction technology, bypassing issues associated with the outer ear. This allows individuals who cannot use traditional hearing aids to receive effective auditory assistance. By embedding the hearing support system within eyewear, the device also reduces the stigma associated with wearing visible hearing aids, presenting the solution as fashionable smart eyewear rather than a medical device.

The design of Able Glasses is particularly beneficial for students and working professionals who require discreet and reliable hearing support. The device features 16-channel digital programmability, allowing hearing profiles to be customized according to the user’s specific hearing requirements. Bluetooth connectivity enables users to take calls, listen to audio content, and connect to smartphones seamlessly. A rechargeable battery provides more than 12 hours of usage, ensuring that users can rely on the device throughout their daily activities.

Another important user group includes middle-aged and elderly individuals who experience both vision and hearing difficulties due to age-related conditions such as presbycusis. Managing separate devices for vision correction and hearing support can be inconvenient. Able Glasses solve this issue by allowing users to incorporate prescription lenses into the frame, thereby combining vision and hearing assistance in a single device.

The system is supported by the Able Assistant App, which acts as a digital hearing companion. Through the application, users can perform hearing screening tests at home using audiometry tools that generate a WHO-grade hearing assessment report. The app also includes an AI-powered virtual audiologist that can answer hearing-related questions in more than 12 Indian languages. This feature improves accessibility for users across diverse linguistic backgrounds and reduces the need for immediate in-person consultations.

To ensure reliable and clinically accurate hearing care, the solution follows a B2B2C distribution model that connects users with certified audiologists and hearing specialists. The platform links users to a nationwide network of more than 6,000 certified audiologists across India, ensuring that hearing rehabilitation remains medically supervised while maintaining the convenience of digital tools.

Overall, Able Glasses represent a holistic hearing care ecosystem that combines wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and professional healthcare support. By integrating hearing assistance with everyday eyewear and providing AI-powered diagnostics and guidance through the mobile app, the system lowers the barriers associated with hearing rehabilitation and encourages earlier adoption of assistive hearing technology.

For additional context and detailed documentation of this use case, please refer to pages 25-26 in the attached Casebook.