The OTC hearing brand known for its affordable hearing aids is entering the hearing preservation space with an audiologist-developed device designed to reduce harmful noise exposure without sacrificing sound quality.
Audien Hearing, which has become a well-known OTC hearing aid brand in the US, has launched Audien Shields, a hearing protection product developed with audiology input and aimed at consumers in high-noise environments including concerts, stadiums, and occupational settings.
The product features a single-dial, three-setting design that the company says delivers up to 45 dB of protection while preserving speech clarity and music fidelity. Unlike passive foam or silicone earplugs, Shields is engineered to attenuate harmful sound levels while keeping the acoustic character of the surrounding environment intact, according to the company.
The launch marks a notable shift in Audien’s product strategy. Previously focused on hearing aids and amplification, the company is now framing its portfolio around what it describes as a full hearing wellness ecosystem — encompassing amplification for those with hearing loss, protection for those seeking to preserve hearing, and ongoing specialist support.
The Case for Proactive Hearing Preservation
The product’s clinical rationale draws on well-established noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) thresholds. At 85 dB, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s permissible exposure limit is eight hours. Concert venues routinely reach 120 dB, and stadium environments average around 117 dB — levels at which permanent hearing damage can begin within 15 minutes. NIHL is irreversible, and its onset is often insidious, with consequences not recognized until years after repeated exposure.
“We create high-quality hearing solutions that are accessible to more Americans than ever before. We would be delighted if you never needed them. That’s why we’re launching Audien Shields. The hearing you protect today is the hearing you keep for tomorrow,” says Laurie Ann Goldman, CEO of Audien Hearing, in a release.
Dr Rachel Trinker, head of audiology at Audien Hearing, emphasized the product’s design philosophy of maintaining sound quality alongside protection. “Real protection used to mean giving something up. Sound, clarity, the feeling of being in the room,” says Trinker, in a release. “We engineered Shields so people keep all of it. You get the night, the work, the ride, and you keep the hearing you’ll want for the rest of it.”
Availability and Distribution
Audien Shields is available now through AudienHearing.com, with distribution through Amazon and TikTok Shop planned for the near future. The product joins a lineup that already spans thousands of US retail locations, including Target, following the company’s expansion to more than 11,000 retail locations announced in late 2025.
