Usability and desirability of a hearing health chatbot: an explorative study.

Objective: This study explored the usability and desirability of an AI-driven chatbot designed to support adults with hearing loss. Design: A mixed-methods exploratory study was conducted, incorporating mobile analytics, in-app feedback, and qualitative interviews. A prototype AI-driven chatbot was...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Audiology Vol. 65; no. 2; pp. 233 - 244
Main Authors: Bennett, Rebecca J., Tsiolkas, Jessica, Tagudin, Josh
Format: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Feb2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=194088952&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 194088952
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        14992027
        JW2
      jtl: International Journal of Audiology
      issn: 14992027
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Feb2026
      vid: 65
      iid: 2
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        194088952
        185933358
        194088952
        194088952
        10.1080/14992027.2025.2514586
        194088952
      ppf: 233
      ppct: 11
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: Usability and desirability of a hearing health chatbot: an explorative study.
      aug:
        au:
          Bennett, Rebecca J.
          Tsiolkas, Jessica
          Tagudin, Josh
        affil: enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
      sug:
        subj:
          Hearing Disorders
          Chatbot Utilization
          Support, Psychosocial
          Consumer Satisfaction
          Human
          Multimethod Studies
          Exploratory Research
          Feedback
          Middle Age
          Hearing Aids
          Tinnitus
          Audiologists
          Conversation
          Male
          Female
          Content Analysis
          Descriptive Statistics
          Funding Source
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Objective: This study explored the usability and desirability of an AI-driven chatbot designed to support adults with hearing loss. Design: A mixed-methods exploratory study was conducted, incorporating mobile analytics, in-app feedback, and qualitative interviews. A prototype AI-driven chatbot was developed using GPT Creator and integrated into a simple app interface. Participants used the chatbot over a 2-week period, with their interactions and feedback recorded for analysis. Study sample: Ten adults with hearing loss (mean age: 58.6 years, SD = 8.7) participated in the study. Results: Participant individual chatbot usage ranged from one to eight interactions. Key areas of inquiry included hearing aid functionality, tinnitus management, and audiologist-related concerns. The chatbot was perceived as user-friendly and useful for basic support, but experienced users desired more personalised responses. Suggested improvements included conversation memory, better handling of multiple questions, and enhanced voice-to-text functionality. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that AI-driven chatbots may offer valuable support for adults with hearing loss. While usability and desirability were generally favourable, enhancements in personalisation and accessibility are needed to improve engagement and long-term adoption. Future iterations should incorporate user-centred refinements to maximise the chatbot's effectiveness in hearing health management.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N