The latest Jabra headphones are for people with mild to moderate hearing loss

A number of companies make “hearing enhancement” devices that look more like a set of headphones than a piece of clinical technology. Nuheara has been a staple at CES with its IQbuds line-up and companies like Bose, Bragi, Olive and others have come up with a mix of technology and hardware to help with hearing loss. Even Apple plans to introduce a “Converstaion Boost” for its AirPods Pro. Since the FDA allows companies to sell direct to consumers with mild to moderate hearing loss without the need for a prescription, the list of options keeps growing. Jabra is another company uniquely equipped to blur the line between hearing aids and true wireless headphones, thanks to the hearing aid expertise of its parent company GN.

With the Jabra Enhance Plus, the company is making a device more accessible to people who may not yet need what hearing aids offer all day. Jabra describes these headphones as “a true miniaturized wireless form factor” that is 50% smaller than its stellar Elite 75t model. These are already some of the smaller buds I’ve tested, so reducing the size even further makes the Enhance Plus more comfortable and more discreet. Plus, a design that looks like headphones rather than a traditional hearing aid helps reduce the stigma associated with wearing something that helps you hear better.

Inside, four distinct sound processing functions enhance audio quality. The Enhance Plus analyzes sound to keep things as natural as possible while reducing noise for clarity of speech. The headphones also ensure that the feedback does not hamper amplification and isolates sounds coming in front of you.

In addition to improving hearing, the Jabra Enhance Plus can function as true wireless headphones for listening to music and taking calls. Similar to other headphones, the Enhance Plus comes with multiple sizes of ear tips to help you find the best fit, built-in controls, and water / dust resistance (IP52). Jabra says they will last 10 hours on a charge with a total of 30 hours when you factor in the charging case. An app makes setup easier and offers a certain degree of customization.

Jabra plans to launch Enhance Plus in “certain hearing care clinics” in the United States “by the end of the year”. A licensed professional will perform a hearing test to make sure these headphones are suitable. There’s no word on pricing yet, but the company says it’s seeking approval in the self-adjusting category from the FDA. If you are looking more for a real hearing aid rather than these “amplifiers”, Jabra also offers the Enhanced Pro. It wears the more traditional behind-the-ear hearing aid design as well as a charging case. It’s also expensive, starting at $ 1,800.

If that’s what you’re looking for, Bose SoundControl hearing aids went on sale in May in a handful of states. This device leverages the company’s audio expertise to help you hear better, and Bose said they were the first FDA-approved hearing aids that could be sold directly to consumers. Plus, they’re more affordable at $ 850, but they work with the typical zinc-air batteries in hearing aids rather than being rechargeable.