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Authors: Raja Kushalnagar, Shuxu Huffman, Si Chen, Kelly Avery Mack, Haotian Su, Qi Wang
Venue: Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA 2025) (2025). doi:10.1145/3706599.3719785
Generative AI tools, particularly those utilizing large language models (LLMs), are increasingly used in everyday contexts. While these tools enhance productivity and accessibility, little is known about how Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals engage with them or the challenges they face when using them. This paper presents a mixed-method study exploring how the DHH community uses Text AI tools like ChatGPT to reduce communication barriers and enhance information access. We surveyed 80 DHH participants and conducted interviews with 9 participants. Our findings reveal important benefits, such as eased communication and bridging Deaf and hearing cultures, alongside challenges like lack of American Sign Language (ASL) support and Deaf cultural understanding. We highlight unique usage patterns, propose inclusive design recommendations, and outline future research directions to improve Text AI accessibility for the DHH community.
This study explored DHH individuals’ experiences with Text AI tools, highlighting both benefits and barriers. Participants used Text AI to improve communication with hearing individuals through English support and cultural bridging, alleviating much of the effort DHH people typically invest to facilitate communication. While Text AI helps reduce gaps between Deaf and hearing communities, challenges persist, including difficulties with English prompts, limited understanding of Deaf culture, and the need for Deaf-specific instructional materials. Participants called for ASL input/output support, better adaptation to ASL grammar, and AI trained on Deaf culture. These findings provide insights into the unique ways the DHH community interacts with Text AI and offer recommendations to improve these tools for accessibility and inclusion. Future research should focus on developing AI that better serves underserved and underrepresented communities.
