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

This study explored the usability and desirability of an AI-driven chatbot designed to support adults with hearing loss. 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. Ten adults with hearing loss (mean age: 58.6 years, SD = 8.7) participated in the study. 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. 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.

本研究针对一款面向成人听力损失群体的AI驱动聊天机器人（AI-driven chatbot），探究其可用性与用户合意性。本研究采用混合方法探索性设计，整合了移动数据分析、应用内反馈采集与质性访谈三种研究手段。研究团队基于GPT Creator开发了一款AI驱动聊天机器人原型，并将其集成至简洁的应用界面中。受试者在为期两周的时间内使用该聊天机器人，其交互行为与反馈均被记录以用于后续分析。本次研究共招募10名成人听力损失受试者，平均年龄为58.6岁，标准差为8.7。受试者的单次聊天机器人交互次数区间为1至8次。本次研究的核心探究维度涵盖助听器功能、耳鸣管理以及与听力学相关的各类诉求。受试者普遍认为该聊天机器人操作简便、可有效提供基础支持，但有使用经验的受试者期望获得更具个性化的回复。受试者提出的优化建议包括对话记忆功能、多问题处理能力升级以及语音转文本功能的增强。本研究提供了初步实证依据，表明AI驱动聊天机器人可为成人听力损失群体提供颇具价值的支持服务。尽管该聊天机器人的可用性与用户合意性整体表现良好，但仍需在个性化与易用性层面进行优化，以提升用户参与度与长期采用率。未来的版本迭代应融入以用户为中心的优化方案，以最大化该聊天机器人在听力健康管理中的应用效能。