In our journey to make the online world a more welcoming place for people with disabilities, it's important to remember that there are different kinds of impairments. That's why when we talk about website accessibility, we often approach any given problem from a wider perspective.
That's why we always need to ask ourselves one question – what people are accessing my website?
One of the groups of disabled people is those with hearing impairments or complete deafness. There are multiple ways to make your website accessible to them. We will outline those in this blog post and give you some important tips on how to do that.
What Are Hearing Impairments?
Hearing impairments are disabilities that affect our way of receiving auditory information. In plain language – can we hear or not, and how well do we hear?
There's a worldwide standard for when bad hearing is considered a disability. As written by the World Health Organization (WHO), a person is said to have hearing loss when they can't hear below 20 decibels with one or two ears*.
Hearing loss can be divided into four groups as follows:
- Mild;
- Moderate;
- Moderately severe;
- Severe;
- Profound.
Hearing loss can be acquired or congenital, meaning it can result from trauma, some form of illness, or a birth defect of the ear. Hearing loss can affect a person's life profoundly, and that's why it's essential to include people with these kinds of disabilities in everyday life as much as possible.
To put this in perspective, let's look at the numbers provided by WHO:
- More than 1,5 billion people live with hearing loss – nearly 20% of the global population;
- 430 million of them have disabling hearing loss;
- Studies show that by 2050, over 700 million people will have disabling hearing loss;
- 34 million children around the world have deafness or hearing loss. 60% per cent of cases are due to preventable causes.
- 30% of all people over the age of 60 have hearing loss;
According to estimates from the WHO, global hearing aid production covers just 3% of the population that needs some form of technology to help them hear sound.
As you can see, the number of people who live with these types of disabilities is huge, and that is one of the reasons we need to address deafness accessibility on our website.
Source: Pexels
Why Is Accessibility for Deaf Users Important?
Hearing is one of the major senses we use to experience the world. It's an important evolutionary trait, and in the ever-evolving modern world, it has a huge impact on how we navigate, communicate, and understand life.
Considering that there are over 5 billion internet users worldwide, it's important to acknowledge that not all of them can hear well or have permanent and profound hearing loss.
When designing your website for people with hearing impairments, you must consider how they receive auditory information.
Regarding current guidelines and laws in accessibility – every modern law worldwide has strict rules on hearing disabilities. Making a website accessible to users with deafness or hearing loss is part of the core rules of website accessibility, which were devised and published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) contain very thorough guidelines and ideas on how to make your website friendly and accessible to people with hearing disabilities. Most of those guidelines are embedded in current laws on accessibility, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the European Accessibility Act, and others.
Source: FreePik
How to Check if My Website Is Accessible for Deaf Users?
There is a wide variety of tools available for website developers and owners to check whether their website is accessible for deaf users. One of those tools is the Qualibooth software and Accessibility Checker.
We have implemented all modern guidelines and regulations in our software, so you can be sure that it will give you a heads-up if it finds any accessibility problems related to hearing impairments.
Another way to check if your website is accessible to deaf users is through real-world testing. You can have your webpage tested by people with different hearing problems. That way, you will get valuable insight from the source on how to improve your accessibility.
Our best tip is to follow the W3C guidelines for hearing accessibility. That way, you will be sure that your webpage covers all the necessary steps.
Source: Pexels
How to Make a Website Accessible for the Deaf?
There are several ways in which you can make your website accessible to deaf people. Here, we are going to give you 8 core tips on how to achieve that.
Use Plain English
Not all people with hearing disabilities have full-on deafness. Some can read but don't understand complex words and terminology.
Based on that, using plain English to convey written information is better. Write short and easy-to-understand sentences, provide additional information where needed, and ensure the text follows logical structure.
That way, you can ensure deaf users easily perceive all the information.
Easy Navigation
Your website must be easy to navigate for everyone, not only for people with disabilities. You should use simple keyboard controls to achieve this. Clearly labelled links and buttons are also important if you aim to provide accessibility and inclusion to everybody using your service.
Proper Content Structure
The structure of your content is of significant importance for your user's experience on your website.
It should be organised clearly and logically, with headings, clear paragraphs, and appropriately formatted lists, to help all users, with or without disabilities, understand the information you are providing and navigate through your website easily.
Have Hearing Aids
If your webpage has important video content, such as an explainer, make sure you provide a sign language interpreter. People with hearing loss or hearing disability rely on sign language to communicate. If you have this interpretation, you can be sure they'll receive every part of the information.
Review Captions
Regular review and check-ups of your website's accessibility ensure you comply with laws and regulations. Review all the accessibility features and ensure the captions on your website's videos are accurate to guarantee they accurately represent the spoken content for deaf users.
Summarise Audio and Video Content
Provide concise audio and video content summaries to give deaf users an overview of the information presented, helping them decide whether to engage further with the material.
Add Subtitles/Captions to Video Content
Include subtitles or captions on all video content to give deaf users text versions of the spoken dialogue. That way, you ensure they can understand and follow along with the audio content effectively.
Provide Multiple Contact Options
Offer various contact options, including email, chat, and text messaging, to accommodate deaf users who may prefer written communication over phone calls.
Conclusion
People with hearing disabilities comprise a huge part of the world's population. That's why we need to ensure that they are integrated into everyday life and can experience the world as everybody else.
Most people use the internet nowadays, so making sure that your website is accessible to deaf people and people with hearing loss is very important. It's important to you because that way, you protect your business from potential lawsuits, and it's important for people with disabilities because you make them feel included.
Overall, an accessible website hugely benefits all users, not just those with disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is Captioning Important for Deaf Accessibility?
It allows deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to follow along and understand the content, ensuring equal access to information and entertainment.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Deaf Accessibility?
They vary by country, but many places have laws mandating accessibility for people with disabilities. In the United States, for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses, employers, and public services to provide reasonable accommodations, including for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
What Role Does Sign Language Play in Deaf Accessibility?
Sign language is a primary mode of communication for many deaf individuals. It enables precise and effective communication, especially for those who do not rely on spoken language.
Resources:
- *World Health Organization on Hearing Loss: https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss#tab=tab_1
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