Going digital: Testing a digital health app with children and young people with learning disabilities

Healthwatch Hertfordshire worked with Hertfordshire County Council to test and evaluate a digital health app called Hear Me Now to understand whether the app could be of value to children and young people with learning disabilities as a way of managing their health in an easier way. They recruited four young people with learning disabilities and three carers to test the app.

Although the primary purpose of the app is for users to independently manage, record, and share health information and support needs with healthcare professionals, most participants were not inclined to use the app in this way. Participants preferred to use the app to record personal information such as their hobbies and interests. They also liked how they could customise and personalise the app to express themselves and their identity.

All participants required support from their carer to use the app. At times the carers also found the app confusing or counterintuitive and required additional support. Carers of participants with greater communication needs could see the benefits of using the app to write notes and record audio and video clips to help their child communicate with healthcare professionals. However, carers and participants did not find it easy to share information with healthcare professionals through the app and were not convinced that clinicians would have the time or capacity to learn how to use the app. Carers had concerns about the safety of the app in relation to privacy, security and consent. Participants thought the cost of the app was too high, and difficult to justify

Based on this feedback, Hertfordshire County Council has made the decision to promote a range of suitable apps that will help children and young people with learning disabilities to manage their health, depending on their wants and needs. This will include apps that are free to the user.