Optimizing Accessibility for Hearing Loss

[KimberlyMcGee]

(authored by Nicole Windmann, VP, Head of Accessible Software Development)

Over 430 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss [1]. About 15 percent of all adults in the U.S. report some hearing difficulty [2]. Additionally, hearing loss affects approximately one-third of people aged 65-74 and nearly half of those over 75 in the U.S. [3].

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes hearing loss as a loss greater than 35 decibels in the ear that hears better [1]. Individuals who identify as Deaf or hard of hearing may experience a broad spectrum of hearing levels. These terms describe experiences rather than limitations.

The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age. Among people older than 60, over 25 percent are affected by disabling hearing loss [1]. Other common causes of hearing loss are infections, medication, a perforated tympanic membrane, otosclerosis, and neurologic conditions.

Design for Accessibility is Design for Everyone

Software designed for accessibility benefits not only people with permanent hearing loss, but also those with temporary or situational hearing challenges. Ear infections can cause short-term hearing loss, while stress and fatigue may lead to temporary difficulty processing sounds, making communication harder. Software designed for accessibility creates a better experience for all users, whether dealing with loud background noise on public transit or needing to stay quiet in libraries.

5 Tips to Optimize Accessibility for Those with Hearing Loss

SAP's Accessibility Design Tools, together with the Inclusive Research Handbook, are built to encourage empathy-driven decisions. To facilitate inclusion, SAP Design has some tips on how and why to design products that are accessible for those with hearing loss.

1. Captions, Subtitles, and Transcripts

• Provide closed captions, subtitles, and transcripts for all audio and video content.
• Use clear visual alerts and error indicators.
• Ensure video platforms support live transcription and interpretation. Promote accessible social media and community features.
• Why? Audio cues in videos, podcasts, or voice instructions can often be inaccessible, causing important information to be missed. Video conferencing tools may lack real-time captions or transcription, and inaccessible media features can limit participation.

2. Chat and Messaging

• Integrate robust chat and messaging features.
• Support speech-to-text tools that convert spoken words into text and vice versa.
• Provide user education about assistive technologies.
• Why? Many users are unaware of assistive technologies such as speech-to-text apps, limiting their communication options.

3. Alerts and Notifications

• Incorporate vibration alerts and notifications alongside audio cues to ensure important updates are perceived by all users.
• Why? Audio-only alerts can be missed by users with hearing loss.

4. Visual Signifiers

• Use visual signifiers such as icons, color changes, or message banners to communicate errors and warnings clearly.
• Why? Relying solely on sound for warnings or errors excludes users with hearing loss.

5. Inclusive Meetings

• Support live transcription and captioning features during meetings to ensure inclusive communication.
• Why? Users with hearing loss may feel excluded without live transcription during one-on-one or small group conversations.

How SAP Designs with Accessibility in Mind

Technology keeps changing, but our commitment to accessibility remains constant. We're focused on making sure innovation moves forward without leaving anyone behind. To achieve that goal, we are actively innovating how accessibility considerations can be integrated in all parts of the Product Development Lifecycle, especially in early phases like design.

Check out SAP's Accessibility Design Tools and stay tuned for our next big step towards easier implementation of accessibility in designs!

References

1. WHO Deafness and Hearing Loss, 2025: World Health Organization. "Deafness and Hearing Loss." https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss
2. Vital Health Stat 10, 2014. "Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: national health interview survey, 2012." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24819891/
3. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. "Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis)." https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss#9