IJIET 2026 Vol.16(4): 921-929
doi: 10.18178/ijiet.2026.16.4.2563
doi: 10.18178/ijiet.2026.16.4.2563
Development and Implementation of an Educational Mobile Application for Children with Hearing Impairments
Gulnaz Salgarayeva1, Aigul Makhanova1,*, and Fariza Lakhanova2
1. Department of Computer Science, Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Digital Technologies,
Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
2. Department of Biology, Institute of Natural Sciences, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Email: salgara.g@qyzpu.edu.kz (G.S.); makhanova.a@qyzpu.edu.kz (A.M.); lakhanova.f@qyzpu.edu.kz (F.L.)
*Corresponding author
2. Department of Biology, Institute of Natural Sciences, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Email: salgara.g@qyzpu.edu.kz (G.S.); makhanova.a@qyzpu.edu.kz (A.M.); lakhanova.f@qyzpu.edu.kz (F.L.)
*Corresponding author
Manuscript received August 16, 2025; revised September 8, 2025; accepted October 16, 2025; published April 13, 2026
Abstract—This study investigates the development and evaluation of an educational mobile application designed for children with hearing impairments. The application incorporates game-based elements to facilitate learning and enhance engagement. The primary aim was to assess its effectiveness in improving algorithmic thinking and academic performance. The research was conducted in two stages: (1) development of the application using an inclusive design approach, and (2) experimental implementation in the educational process. The participants were 15 sixth-grade students from a specialized school for children with hearing impairments, divided into an experimental group (n = 7) and a control group (n = 8). The experimental group used the application as a supplementary tool for learning programming, while the control group followed traditional teaching methods. Pre-test and post-test assessments were administered to measure changes in performance. The results demonstrated that the mobile application significantly enhanced algorithmic thinking and improved academic outcomes compared with the traditional approach. These findings highlight the potential of accessible digital tools to support inclusive education and promote effective learning among students with special educational needs.
Keywords—children with hearing impairments, educational mobile application, game-based learning, algorithmic thinking, educational tool
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
Keywords—children with hearing impairments, educational mobile application, game-based learning, algorithmic thinking, educational tool
Cite: Gulnaz Salgarayeva, Aigul Makhanova, and Fariza Lakhanova, "Development and Implementation of an Educational Mobile Application for Children with Hearing Impairments," International Journal of Information and Education Technology, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 921-929, 2026.
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).