Autumn 2022 - Winter 2023

Hearing Aid Simulator DRG

Co-directed by Drs. Elin Björling and Daniella Kim

Note this DRG is at capacity and no longer accepting applications.

What would it be like to put yourself in the shoes of someone with hearing loss? One of the leading causes of kids' low hearing aid compliance is that sometimes grownups and other kids just don't understand what it's like to wear a hearing aid. 

This DRG, a collaboration between Seattle Children's Hospital and HCDE, aims to build empathy for those who wear hearing aids by designing and early prototyping a VR hearing aid simulator for people that commonly interact with kids with hearing loss. This might include caregivers, the cafeteria lunch person, siblings, teachers, medical professionals, and sports coaches. 

We'll find out what kids with hearing aids really want us to know, and using human-centered design methods, figure out what a helpful VR solution might look like. 

Note this DRG is at capacity and no longer accepting applications.