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Hearing-impaired person: meaning, definitions and examples

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hearing-impaired person

[ ˈhɪrɪŋ ɪmˈpɛrd ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

medical term

A person who has a partial or total loss of hearing. This term is preferred over terms like 'deaf' or 'deaf-mute' as it is more respectful and inclusive.

Synonyms

deaf, hard of hearing.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
hearing-impaired person	This term is generally considered more clinical or formal and is often used in medical or professional settings. It is a neutral term that encompasses anyone who has some form of hearing loss. The school provides special accommodations for hearing-impaired students. Hearing-impaired individuals can benefit from a variety of assistive devices.
deaf	This term is often used for individuals who have little to no hearing and may identify with Deaf culture. It's a straightforward term but can sometimes carry a more casual or community-specific connotation. She was born deaf and uses sign language to communicate. The deaf community often advocates for greater awareness and accessibility.
hard of hearing	This term is typically used for individuals who have some level of hearing loss but do not consider themselves entirely deaf. It is often used in everyday conversation and can be less formal. My grandfather is hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid. People who are hard of hearing can benefit from closed captioning on TV.

Word

Description / Examples

hearing-impaired person

This term is generally considered more clinical or formal and is often used in medical or professional settings. It is a neutral term that encompasses anyone who has some form of hearing loss.

The school provides special accommodations for hearing-impaired students.
Hearing-impaired individuals can benefit from a variety of assistive devices.

deaf

This term is often used for individuals who have little to no hearing and may identify with Deaf culture. It's a straightforward term but can sometimes carry a more casual or community-specific connotation.

She was born deaf and uses sign language to communicate.
The deaf community often advocates for greater awareness and accessibility.

hard of hearing

This term is typically used for individuals who have some level of hearing loss but do not consider themselves entirely deaf. It is often used in everyday conversation and can be less formal.

My grandfather is hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid.
People who are hard of hearing can benefit from closed captioning on TV.

Examples of usage

He decided to learn sign language to better communicate with his hearing-impaired friend.
The school installed special devices to assist hearing-impaired students in the classroom.

Translations

Translations of the word "hearing-impaired person" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pessoa com deficiência auditiva

🇮🇳 श्रवण बाधित व्यक्ति

🇩🇪 hörgeschädigte Person

🇮🇩 orang dengan gangguan pendengaran

🇺🇦 людина з вадами слуху

🇵🇱 osoba z wadą słuchu

🇯🇵 聴覚障害者

🇫🇷 personne malentendante

🇪🇸 persona con discapacidad auditiva

🇹🇷 işitme engelli kişi

🇰🇷 청각 장애인

🇸🇦 شخص ضعيف السمع

🇨🇿 osoba se sluchovým postižením

🇸🇰 osoba so sluchovým postihnutím

🇨🇳 听力受损的人

🇸🇮 oseba z okvaro sluha

🇮🇸 heyrnarskertur einstaklingur

🇰🇿 есту қабілеті нашар адам

🇬🇪 სმენის დაქვეითებული ადამიანი

🇦🇿 eşitmə qabiliyyəti zəif olan şəxs

🇲🇽 persona con discapacidad auditiva

Etymology

The term 'hearing-impaired' emerged as a more respectful and inclusive alternative to terms like 'deaf' or 'deaf-mute'. It emphasizes the focus on the hearing loss rather than defining individuals solely by their disability. The shift in language reflects a growing awareness of the importance of respectful and person-first language in addressing individuals with hearing loss.