Testing for different access needs

Hearing

Part of
Tools and testing COLLECTION collection
Last reviewed
13 August 2026

Tools and techniques to help you identify potential barriers for people with hearing access needs.

Hearing access needs

Hearing access needs can affect how people access, understand and respond to information and communication. They can be associated with a range of disabilities, conditions and circumstances, and can affect people in different ways.

Examples include:

  • partial hearing loss, which can reduce hearing ability
  • deafness
  • difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments
  • tinnitus, which can cause ringing or buzzing in the ears
  • ear infections

These are examples rather than a complete list. People with the same condition may have different access needs, and some people may experience hearing barriers without having a diagnosed condition.

Potential barriers

Hearing access needs can affect people in different ways. When testing your service, consider whether people can:

  • understand audio-only content
  • use the phone
  • understand complex written** [JAKE?]** language, particularly if they use British Sign Language
  • understand low-quality or quiet audio
  • notice audio-only notifications

Testing tools to identify barriers

Start with automated checks

Automated accessibility tools can help you identify some potential barriers. They cannot identify every accessibility issue, so use them alongside manual checks and testing with people.

You can use tools such as:

  • axe DevTools
  • WAVE Evaluation
  • ARC Toolkit

Carry out manual checks

Manual checks can identify issues that automated tools cannot. You can use:

You could check:

  • videos use captions or provide transcripts
  • notifications have a visual alternative
  • audio quality is clear
  • volume controls are available
  • content is written in plain language

Use personas to explore potential barriers

You could use HMRC's accessibility personas. They're a good starting point to understand user needs of people with disabilities.

Saleem Deaf user

Saleem is fluent in British Sign Language (BSL). He uses captions and clear content to navigate websites. He needs:

  • plain language and clear, structured content
  • videos with accurate captions
  • communication using BSL if possible

View Saleem's profile and task