Could Smart Voice Assistant technology have a place in Audiological rehabilitation? Mrs Taegan Young1, Dr Ingrid Yeend1, Dr Jorge Mejia1, Dr Melanie Ferguson1 1National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, Australia Background: Smart Voice Assistant (SVA) technology is proving to be a disruptive force in healthcare services around the world. Embedded in devices such as Google Home™ and Amazon Echo™, SVA is being used to educate and communicate with patients and provide ongoing case management in a range of health disciplines. As the acceptance of SVA technology and telemedical practice grows, there may be scope to provide audiological services and support to clients using SVA. Objectives: To examine the attitudes of adults who wear hearing devices, and audiologists towards the use of SVA technology in audiological rehabilitation and to identify the barriers and facilitators to integrating SVA into clinical practice. Methods: Adults (n=10) who wore hearing devices and clinical audiologists (n=7) attended either a focus group or interview. Participants were asked about their experiences of the post-hearing aid fitting period, acceptance of technology and personal views of SVA technology. We identified and classified the participant’s insights into themes and used these data to inform the development of a SVA program, designed to support and motivate people newly fitted with hearing aids. An iterative development cycle was used to gain participants’ impressions of the new technology. A working prototype was then developed and trialled by participants, both in the clinic and home environment. Results: Participants reported that they liked the idea of a post-fitting SVA program, particularly if it was recommended by their audiologist. However, barriers were identified, such as inexperience with SVA, requiring an additional device, concerns about audibility, and a preference for text-based services. Conclusion: The viability of SVA technology for people with hearing difficulties is dependent on overcoming the above barriers. Addressing these factors will be vital if SVA is to be utilised successfully in the Australian client-focused, hearing- and connected health care context. Learning Objectives To present an example of participatory research, drawing on the lived experience of people who wear hearing aids. To introduce design-thinking concepts and explain how they are relevant to audiological research. To identify the facilitators and barriers to using Smart Voice assistant technology in an audiological rehab setting. Corresponding Author: Taegan Young Email: Taegan.young@nal.gov.au<mailto:Taegan.young@nal.gov.au> Availability: May 3 or 4 (Sydney time) Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10