Assistive technologies for severe and profound hearing loss: beyond hearing aids and implants

Hermawati, Setia; Pieri, Katerina

Abstract

Assistive technologies offer capabilities that were previously inaccessible to individuals with severe and profound hearing loss who have no or limited access to hearing aids and implants. This literature review aims to explore existing assistive technologies and identify what still needs to be done. It is found that there is a lack of focus on the overall objectives of assistive technologies. In addition, several other issues are identified i.e. only a very small number of assistive technologies developed within a research context have led to commercial devices, there is a predisposition to use the latest expensive technologies and a tendency to avoid designing products universally. Finally, the further development of plug-ins that translate the text content of a website to various sign languages is needed to make information on the internet more accessible.

Citation

Hermawati, S., & Pieri, K. (2019). Assistive technologies for severe and profound hearing loss: beyond hearing aids and implants. Assistive Technology: The Offical Journal of RESNA, https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2018.1522524

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 5, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jan 17, 2019
• Publication Date: Jan 17, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 24, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 18, 2020
• Journal: Assistive Technology
• Print ISSN: 1040-0435
• Electronic ISSN: 1949-3614
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Open
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2018.1522524
• Keywords: Assistive technologies; Severe and profound hearing loss; Design for all; Participatory design
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1129255
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10400435.2018.1522524?journalCode=uaty20
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Assistive Technology : The Official Journal of RESNA on 17 January 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10400435.2018.1522524