Unraveling Interaction Challenges for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Users: An Exploration of Digital Content and Interfaces Accessibility
Authors: Farayola Olarinde , Loksa Dastyni , Feng Jinjuan 
Published: June 2024

Efficient engagement with ubiquitous digital content and interfaces presupposes a profound level of reading comprehension, a potential impediment for users within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Existing literature demonstrates a correlation between diminished reading comprehension and deafness [1, 3], accentuating the formidable barriers faced by this demographic in accessing and understanding digital content and navigating an increasingly digital world. Despite decades of efforts to enhance digital accessibility for all users, limited research has focused on the specific challenges confronting deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, particularly those not adept with technology [2].This study aims to address this gap by investigating the daily interaction challenges faced by deaf and hard-of-hearing users with digital content and interfaces. Conducting a focus group with four deaf participants, we chose this method to facilitate rich, in-depth discussions in American Sign Language (ASL), a mode of communication familiar to the participants. We selected participants with educational levels from high school to those who had attained an Associate's degree seeking to get a range of possible challenges and investigating if their level of education might impact the challenges they face.Qualitative analysis of the focus group's dialogue unveiled insights into the technological struggles experienced by participants, coupled with their expressed needs for technological support. Three salient themes emerged: 1. Difficulties comprehending textual information across various tasks (email, online search, reading news, text messages, etc.), as unanimously reported by all participants; 2. Challenges associated with writing text and text entry, universally confirmed by all participants; and 3. Challenges in content and interface comprehension, influencing the installation, navigation, and utilization of various technologies, universally acknowledged by all participants.In this paper, we discuss the implications of these findings for researchers, technology developers, and digital content providers alike. We further explore avenues for future research along with potential technological enhancements aimed at mitigating the challenges confronting the deaf and hard-of-hearing population. The insights derived from this study are positioned to guide digital content developers, policymakers, and educators in effecting essential changes to amplify the accessibility of digital content and interfaces for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, both within the United States and on a global scale. References[1]M. Marschark and P. C. Hauser, Deaf cognition: foundations and outcomes. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.[2]M. Maiorana-Basas and C. M. Pagliaro, “Technology Use Among Adults Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A National Survey,” Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 400–410, Mar. 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enu005.[3]E. Toofaninejad, E. Zaraii Zavaraki, S. Dawson, O. Poquet, and P. Sharifi Daramadi, “Social media use for deaf and hard of hearing students in educational settings: a systematic review of literature,” Deafness & Education International, vol. 19, no. 3–4, pp. 144–161, Oct. 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14643154.2017.1411874.