A short guide on auditory disabilities: types, characteristics, barriers, assistive tech, and UX design.

1. Types, Characteristics, Barriers,
Assistive Tech, and UX Design
Auditory
Disabilities
A11Y AND INCLUSIVE DESIGN SERIES
@ALENAHUANG

2. This is an introduction to auditory disabilities.
Here we will learn about...
1. What are auditory disabilities?
2. Types and characteristics
3. Barriers for people with auditory disabilities
4. Assistive Technologies
5. UX Design Considerations
Let’s get started!
What will this guide cover?

3. Auditory disabilities range from partial to
complete hearing loss including...
• Deafness
• Hard of hearing (HOH)
• Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)
What are Auditory Disabilities?

4. Types and
Characteristics
Auditory Disabilities

5. Deafness can be defined as total or near total
loss of hearing.
Some things to consider...
• Many people who are deaf know sign
language as their first language, so they
may not be as comfortable reading text
• Those who lose hearing later in life may
never learn sign language, or are not as
comfortable with it
Deafness
TYPES OF AUDITORY DISABILITIES

6. About 466 million people, or 6.1% of the
population, are deaf or HOH. Hearing loss can
range from mild to severe, in one or both ears.
Hard of Hearing (HOH)
TYPES OF AUDITORY DISABILITIES

7. CAPD affects 5% of the global population, in
which people have difficulty hearing and
understanding speech even though no
measurable hearing loss exists
Those with CAPD may have the inability to
interpret, organize, or analyze what’s heard.
Central Auditory Processing
Disorder (CAPD)
TYPES OF AUDITORY DISABILITIES

8. Examples of
Barriers
Auditory Disabilities

9. Audio in video and film that are
presented without captions,
transcripts, or sign language
interpretation
BARRIER EXAMPLE #1

10. Environments that are loud or
present competing sounds
BARRIER EXAMPLE #2

11. Website and other tech that
require voice for interaction or
listening to understand
BARRIER EXAMPLE #3

12. Examples of
Assistive Tech
Auditory Disabilities

13. There are various assistive technologies for
those with auditory disabilities including...
• Hearing aids
• Sign language interpretation
• Captions and transcripts
• Audio cues
• Haptic alerts and visual cues
• Speech to text software
Assistive Technologies (AT)

14. UX Design
Considerations
Auditory Disabilities

15. • Provide transcripts or text-based formats
for people to utilize
• Include captions and subtitles on videos
and animations
• Ensure audio is loud and clear, reducing or
removing any background noise
Audio and Videos
UX DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

16. • For essential information, make sure it is
designed with other indicators other than
sound (ex. visual or tactile indicators)
• Allow for notifications and important
communication to come in various forms
other than audio
Forms of Communication
UX DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS