AI-powered prototype could transform life for people with hearing loss
UK researchers are developing smart glasses that could dramatically improve hearing in noisy places. Unlike conventional hearing aids, which amplify all sounds, these glasses use AI and lip-reading to isolate the voice of the person the wearer is looking at.
A team from Heriot-Watt University is leading the project in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, Napier University and the University of Stirling. They aim to produce a working prototype by next year. The goal is not to replace hearing aids, but to enhance them, offering what some researchers have called “superhuman hearing”.
How it works
The glasses contain a camera that captures lip movements and audio. This data is sent via a smartphone app to a cloud server, currently based in Sweden, using 5G for near-instant processing. The AI filters out background noise and sends a cleaner signal back to the user’s hearing aids or headphones.
The result is the ability to follow a conversation more easily in settings like restaurants or public transport, where hearing aids alone often struggle.
More than just amplification
Micaela Stonestreet, a Hearology® Clinical Audiologist, noted that "Hearing in noisy environments is often an area of difficulty for hearing aid users, even when using the latest digital hearing aid technology." She added, "Modern hearing aids do an impressive job, but AI-enhanced solutions like this have the potential to help users focus on exactly what they want to hear in even the most complex of listening environments. If this technology comes to fruition, it could be a very exciting development indeed."
The project reflects a broader shift in assistive technology. Other initiatives at Heriot-Watt include developing conversational AI for people who are blind or partially sighted, and studying how individuals with hearing loss use digital tools to navigate education, work and everyday life.
Privacy challenges ahead
While the benefits could be significant, the glasses raise concerns about privacy. They capture and process audio and visual information in real time, including conversations that may not be intended for the wearer. Critics have warned that, without clear regulation and safeguards, such devices could lead to increased surveillance in both public and private settings.
Developers insist the system is designed to protect personal data, but questions remain about how recordings are stored, who has access and how consent is managed in shared spaces.
A glimpse of the future
If successful, the glasses could transform communication for millions of people living with hearing loss. But success won’t depend on AI alone. Public trust, ethical design and clear rules on data protection will be just as important in bringing this technology to market.
References
- AI-powered ‘hearing glasses’ will use lip-reading technology to help people with hearing loss - News report on the AI-powered hearing glasses
- AI glasses could spark a breakthrough for people with hearing loss - Report on the original news story published by the Information and Communication Technology & Health network
- Two positions available (for deaf people): Postdoctoral research associate (3 years) & PhD student (4 years) - Heriot-Watt University’s research on deafness
