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

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.

NCT Number	NCT07690670
Lead Sponsor	University of Pretoria Collaborators: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Conditions	Hearing Loss
Enrollment	66 participants
Start Date	2026-07-06
Primary Completion	2026-12-15 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-12-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-23