WhatsApp AI Support vs Paper Support for First-Time Hearing Aid Users

Summary

The purpose of this study is to advance hearing care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through the rigorous evaluation and optimization of innovative interventions and technologies. This study encompasses the following key aim:

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a WhatsApp-delivered AI-enabled support and acclimatization programme for adults receiving preset hearing aids in low-resource community settings. The AI-enabled programme combines two complementary components delivered through the same WhatsApp channel: (i) a structured push programme of 16 voice notes and images delivered over four weeks, and (ii) an on-demand artificial-intelligence (AI) conversational support agent available throughout the four-week intervention period. The primary objective is to determine whether this WhatsApp-delivered AI-enabled programme results in superior hearing aid self-efficacy compared to receiving the equivalent core information in a paper-based pamphlet at the time of fitting. By comparing hearing aid self-efficacy, hearing aid outcomes, and user engagement between the intervention (WhatsApp AI-enabled) and control (paper-based) groups, this study seeks to establish whether AI-enabled digital delivery provides superior support and leads to better self-efficacy for first-time hearing aid users compared to traditional paper-based methods.

Conditions

• Hearing Loss

Interventions

DEVICE

Go Ultra Hearing Aids

Go Ultras (GoHearing) are rechargeable, BTE pre-set hearing aids with advanced audio features, digital sound processing and Bluetooth-streaming capabilities. Designed for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, these hearing aids have four unique programs that the user can manually change to ensure optimal listening comfort. These devices have both program and volume memory functions, as well as noise and wind noise reduction. Go Ultras will be sourced at a cost of less than $130 USD per pair, as this study will be conducted in low-income settings.

OTHER

WhatsApp-delivered AI-enabled support

WhatsApp-delivered AI-enabled support and acclimatization programme: A pre-defined sequence of 16 voice notes and images, designed to provide clear and accessible information on the key aspects of hearing aid use, maintenance, troubleshooting, and communication strategies. Messages are delivered on a fixed schedule, sent every second day from the time of fitting over a 30-day period, to promote engagement and to support participants during the early acclimatization period. The voice notes and images are produced in English, isiXhosa, and Sepedi; participants receive content in the language they select at onboarding. On-demand access to an AI-assisted conversational support agent integrated into the same WhatsApp channel. The agent enables participants to ask free-text questions about hearing aid use, maintenance, troubleshooting, and communication strategies, and to receive individualized, educationally grounded responses.

OTHER

Paper-Based Support Programme

Printed pamphlet. The pamphlet covers the same content domains as Component 1 of the experimental intervention: hearing aid use, maintenance, troubleshooting, and communication tips, presented in clear and concise language with supporting illustrations. The pamphlet includes information in English, isiXhosa, and Sepedi; participants can read the version in their preferred language. This approach reflects current community-based fitting practice, in which information is typically provided once during the fitting session, with no structured follow-up support. Participants retain the pamphlet and may refer to it at any time.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Pretoria

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• De Wet Swanepoel, PhD Audiology · University of Pretoria

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-06

Primary Completion

2026-12-15

Completion

2026-12-15

Countries

• South Africa

Study Locations