More than a billion people worldwide live with hearing disabilities. Despite this impressive number, hearing disabilities are still often misunderstood. There is a lot of prejudice and misinformation about the various forms and degrees of severity of hearing impairment. But one thing is certain: websites should be accessible to everyone — including people with hearing disabilities and other disabilities.
Digital inclusion is not only important for ethical reasons, it is also required by law and is an excellent way to promote business. In this article, we'll look at the different types of hearing disabilities and show you how to best tailor your website to the needs of people with hearing disabilities.
Hearing problems and accessibility
Hearing impairment has varying degrees of severity
Everyone experiences hearing impairment differently — depending on the severity of the disorder. Here are some figures that illustrate the prevalence and impact of hearing loss:
50 million people in the USA suffer from tinnitus.
Around 1 million Americans are functionally deaf.
Around 40 million adults in the USA have more or less pronounced hearing problems.
8.5% of adults aged 55 to 64 have hearing problems.
Almost 25% of people aged 65 to 74 suffer from severe hearing impairment.
50% of people aged 75 and over have significant hearing impairment.
Because every form of hearing impairment affects people differently, you should use different strategies to make your website accessible to everyone. Finally, the question is: Why should you exclude a large group of users when assistive technologies for people with hearing disabilities have long been available? One of the most cost-effective and effective digital accessibility solutions is working with a third-party provider that offers AI technology.
There are many different types of hearing problems
Hearing impairment comes in many different forms. Here are a few examples:
Auditory processing disorders: These disorders prevent the brain from correctly converting sound into information.
sensorineural hearing loss: This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ear, cochlea, or auditory nerve.
tinnitus: Persistent noise levels in the ear usually caused by aging or loud noises.
Cochlear hearing loss: This type of hearing loss occurs when sound does not correctly reach the inner ear.
The exact form of hearing impairment varies depending on the person and individual circumstances.
Hearing impairment is most common in older people
The majority of those affected belong to the older population. A third of 65 to 74 year olds and almost 50% of people over 75 years of age have a hearing impairment. If your target audience consists primarily of older people, it's imperative to make your website accessible for people with hearing disabilities.
However, it is also important to remember that barrier-free design for deaf and hard of hearing people often comes with the need to consider other disabilities as well, such as vision problems or cognitive limitations. Accessibility should therefore always be a holistic goal.
Hearing problems also affect children
Although the figures mostly point to older people, children are also affected by various forms of hearing impairment. An estimated 15% of children aged 6 to 19 have significant hearing problems in one or both ears. Around 25-40% of children with hearing loss miss out on up to 40% of open dialogue in a learning environment. These figures are particularly relevant for the education sector, but also for other business models, as these children represent an important future user group.
Tips to improve accessibility for hearing impaired people
Always include sign language in videos, either by a sign language expert, a recording or through targeted video edits.
Make sure your content is understandable to people with hearing and language disabilities or second-language challenges.
Provide subtitles for all videos, ideally using reliable AI technology that also provides manual options for your developers.
Use captions and transcripts to indicate who is speaking in videos.
Minimize or eliminate unnecessary background noiseso that foreground sounds can be heard clearly and clearly.
Provide recommended decibel values for all audio elements. Authorities recommend volumes below 70 dBA for all users.
Provide visible alerts as alternatives to audio announcements and notifications.
Provide volume control, including the ability to mute the sound. Every user has different requirements for a clear yet comfortable listening experience.
Enable contact via various communication channels, including phone, email, and live chat options.
conclusion
Making digital content accessible to people with hearing disabilities is not only a legal obligation, but also an ethical responsibility and a great way to strengthen your brand and grow your business. By taking simple yet effective steps, you're creating a digital world that is accessible to everyone — regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. Providing transcripts, sign language, subtitles, and other accessible options will benefit not only people with hearing disabilities, but also your entire audience, as these solutions improve the overall user experience.
Take the opportunity to make your website accessible to everyone and benefit from the positive effects on your brand perception and business!
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