A usability requirements analysis for wireless interaction and connectivity for elderly hearing aid users

Abstract

Recent studies have shown an increase in the number of elderly smartphone users with hearing aids. The question arises as to how to optimize smartphone use for elderly people who have hearing aids, and in particular how to allow remote control and streaming audio from different audio devices. In our usability requirements analysis, which included 27 participants, we examined two different types of implementation for connecting smartphones to a hearing aid. First, a direct connection between one specific brand of smartphone and a hearing aid is examined. Second, an indirect connection between the usual smartphone and a hearing aid via wireless adapter is investigated. The research findings showed that participants liked the concept of using the smartphone as a streaming device, although opinions were divided as to whether to use a direct or an indirect connection. In conjunction with the indirect connection, we also examined the style of wearing of the adapter. Most of the participants preferred the shirt and belt clip implementation. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.