Enhancing Podcast Accessibility: The Role of Audio Descriptions for Visually Impaired Listeners

Abstract

As podcast consumption continues to grow globally, ensuring equitable access for all listeners, including those with visual impairments, has become a critical concern. Podcasts predominantly rely on auditory storytelling but often include implicit visual or contextual elements that may be inaccessible to visually impaired audiences. This paper investigates the role of audio descriptions—narrative elements that verbally convey visual information—in enhancing podcast accessibility for visually impaired listeners. While audio description has traditionally been associated with film and television (Gustavsson, 2019; Remael et al., 2021), its application in podcasting remains underexplored. Through a mixed-methods approach combining a systematic literature review, usability testing with visually impaired podcast users, and a technical analysis of audio description integration techniques, this study identifies best practices and challenges in adapting audio descriptions for audio-only media.