Contemporary Assistive Technologies for Students with Hearing Loss in Higher Education

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought several challenges to students with hearing loss in Higher Education. Accordingly, assistive, mobile and other contemporary accessible technologies have become more important than ever before. This study provides an overview of the needs and requirements of students with hearing loss in Higher Education. The findings, firstly, include a list of assistive technologies for the purpose of communicating, listening to speech and audio devices, sound recognition, informing, sensing, alerting and learning. Secondly, the findings provide a list of mobile technologies for the purpose of communicating, managing sound, sensing, alerting, learning sign language, learning in general and leisure activities. Thirdly, the findings encompass new dimensions of contemporary technologies, having the potential to support students with hearing loss in challenging educational settings. These findings may primarily serve students with hearing loss, practitioners in Higher Education and other relevant stakeholders.