Authors: SELVARANI MOODLEY¹, Dhanashree Pillay¹
¹University of the Witwatersrand
Background: The rapid expansion of digital technologies presents new opportunities to transform audiology education, clinical training, and public hearing health engagement. This paper presents a suite of student-led digital arts projects developed in collaboration between the Audiology and Digital Arts Departments at Witwatersrand University, specifically within a South African context.
Method: The initiative involved the development and evaluation of five distinct digital tools: 1) serious games for hearing screening and test familiarisation; 2) a game combining hearing health knowledge with introductory sign language; 3) a website aimed at noise exposure sensitivity in youth; 4) a virtual reality (VR) tool for vestibular testing and symptom exploration; and 5) a virtual learning platform/serious game prototype designed to support students’ study skills and early clinical practice.
Results: The projects demonstrated how integrating core audiological principles into gameplay and virtual spaces can demystify assessments and increase user engagement. The VR and game-based prototypes were designed to align with established learning principles, supporting clinical competence while maintaining relevance to both students and lay users.
Conclusion: These projects highlight the value of integrating digital arts, game design, and virtual reality into audiology education. They illustrate how creative digital innovation can enrich learning, support clinical competence, and advance hearing health education and inclusion in virtual spaces.
