hard of hearing

Or hard-of-hear·ing

[hahrd-uhv-heer-ing]

adjective

1. having reduced or deficient hearing ability; having mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss.

   We provide amplified phones for those who are hard of hearing so that they can communicate with friends and family.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. people who have reduced or deficient hearing ability.

   Besides being an aid for the hard of hearing, subtitles improve comprehension for viewers learning a different language.

hard of hearing

adjective

1. 1. deaf or partly deaf

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the hard of hearing

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard of hearing¹

First recorded in 1555–65

Idioms and Phrases

Somewhat deaf, having a partial loss of hearing. For example, You'll have to speak distinctly; Dad's a little hard of hearing. The use of hard in the sense of “difficulty in doing something” survives only in this expression. [Mid-1500s]

Example Sentences

He attended Marlton School, which specialized in teaching students from kindergarten through 12th grade who are deaf and hard of hearing.

From Los Angeles Times

The school, founded 165 years ago in San Francisco, is a state-run boarding school for the deaf, where nearly all employees, students and staff are deaf or hard of hearing.

From Los Angeles Times

“Deaf and hard of hearing Americans have the right to the same access to White House information as everyone else. Denying them ASL interpreters is a direct violation of that right, and the NAD will continue to fight for their full inclusion in the democratic process,” said Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, Interim CEO of the NAD.

From Salon

Speech-to-text programs are becoming more popular for everyday tasks like hands-free dictation, helping people who are visually impaired, and transcribing speech for those who are hard of hearing.

From Science Daily

Home-schooled by her parents, Thea, who like Stine is hard of hearing, is further isolated by her parents’ refusal to adapt to her disability.

From Los Angeles Times