Co-Designing a Web-Based, Gamified, Auditory-Cognitive Dual-Task Training System for Older Adults with Hearing Loss
Date
Authors
Zhao, Ivy Yan
Lau, Tsz Wai
Li, Chen
Ng, Janet Ho-Yee
Holroyd, Eleanor
Sweetow, Robert
Chan, Engle Angela
Leung, Angela YM
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI AG
Abstract
Background: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is associated with decreased communication, reduced social engagement, cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia globally. Although increasing studies report the benefits of combing auditory and cognitive training for older adults with ARHL, more evidence is needed to examine its effects. Moreover, existing training programs have been developed with minimal end-user involvement leading to low adherence rates. This study aimed to investigate the role of co-design in the development of an auditory-cognitive training system for older adults with ARHL. Methods: A co-design methodology was employed. Digital recordings of the co-design workshops were transcribed verbatim. An established reflexive thematic analysis methodology was used. Results: Fifteen older adults with ARHL, referred to as "co-researchers", participated in three co-design workshops until data saturation was achieved. Consultations were held with two key service providers. Three key themes emerged: (1) older adults with ARHL prefer a user-friendly auditory-cognitive training system; (2) clear, localized and colloquial instructions for the training tasks are necessary; and (3) diversified, tailor-made and dual-task training tasks, performed in an interactive and game-like mode, can motivate and sustain usage of the training system. As a result, a prototype of a web-based, gamified, and adaptive auditory-cognitive dual-task training system was co-designed. Conclusions: Our findings affirmed the importance of genuinely listening to the voices of end-users and creating a system that is responsive to their needs and preferences. Future study is recommended to examine the effects of this system on older adults with ARHL.Description
Keywords
age-related hearing loss, assistive technologies, co-design, cognitive function, gamified training system, 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences, 42 Health sciences
Source
Healthcare (Basel), ISSN: 2227-9032 (Print); 2227-9032 (Online), MDPI AG, 13(22), 2926-2926. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13222926
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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).