The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Quality of Life for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Abstract

This research study synthesizes research on applications of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform and improve quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing students. Twenty studies were analyzed, spanning domains including AI-enabled captioning, interpreters, personalized tutors, social robots, and assistive apps. Key findings demonstrate emerging AI innovations show promise for enhancing communication, learning, inclusion, and independence for deaf and hard of hearing youth. Technologies such as automatic speech recognition, natural language processing, and intelligent tutoring systems increased classroom participation and academic skills by removing barriers. However, small samples, lack of longitudinal data, and technology accessibility limitations affect the strength of conclusions. Additional rigorous comparative research is warranted, but cautious adoption of AI appears beneficial if implemented ethically. With thoughtful design and integration, AI technologies exhibit strong potential for creating more empowering, equitable learning for deaf and hard of hearing students. However, achieving an inclusive AI future requires ongoing collaboration among developers, researchers, and educators to ensure that innovations are leveraged to amplify capacities, not replace them.