EFFECTIVENESS OF AUGMENTED REALITY VISUAL ALERTS ON COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATION FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS

The communication and navigation needs of Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) individuals remain pressing issues in both developed and developing contexts, particularly in countries such as Nigeria where accessibility technologies are still limited. This article is a position paper that examines the potential of Augmented Reality (AR) as an assistive technology to bridge communication gaps, enhance safety, and promote independence for DHH individuals. Unlike an empirical study that tests interventions or a review that synthesizes prior evidence, this paper advances an informed argument by drawing on recent studies and global innovations to support the adoption of AR in Nigerian and broader African contexts. Specifically, it highlights AR applications such as real-time captioning, see-through displays, and visual navigation cues, and argues for their transformative role in inclusive communication, mobility, and education. By situating the argument within Nigeria’s socio-economic realities, the paper advocates for increased investment, policy support, and collaborative innovation to make AR solutions affordable and culturally adaptable for DHH communities.