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Improving Art Museum Accessibility for Adults With Acquired Hearing Loss
Susanna Meyer1, Linda Larrivee1, Ann Veneziano-Korzec1
1Communication Sciences & Disorders Department, Worcester State University, MA.
American Journal of Audiology
|January 24, 2017
Summary
Hearing assistive technology (HAT) significantly improved art museum tour accessibility for adults with hearing loss. Trained docents and HAT enhanced the overall experience, making tours more inclusive.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Museum Studies
- Accessibility Research
Background:
- Art museum tours can present accessibility challenges for individuals with hearing loss.
- Hearing assistive technology (HAT) offers potential solutions to improve auditory experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accessibility of docent-led art museum tours for adults with hearing loss.
- To compare tour accessibility with and without hearing assistive technology (HAT).
Main Methods:
- Nineteen adults with acquired hearing loss participated in guided art museum tours.
- Tours were conducted with and without HAT, led by trained docents using clear speech.
- Participants rated tour effectiveness using a pre-post test design.
Main Results:
- Docent-led tours incorporating HAT were rated significantly higher than those without HAT (p = .003).
- Participants provided suggestions for enhancing museum accessibility for those with hearing impairments.
Conclusions:
- Hearing assistive technology (HAT) demonstrably benefits individuals with hearing loss during museum tours.
- Training docents in clear speech and utilizing HAT improves art museum tour accessibility.
