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

"For hard of hearing people, phone banking is challenging, and for visually impaired people, online banking can be really difficult," Miss Kinsella added.

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Finally, my grandmother was hard of hearing and resisted wearing hearing aids regularly.

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

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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.

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“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.

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