hearing-impaired
Americanadjective
Usage
Hearing-impaired is perceived as an offensive term within the Deaf community because the word impaired implies damage, and it focuses on what the person cannot do. When referring to people with hearing loss, the preferred term is hard of hearing .
Etymology
Origin of hearing-impaired
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We had a dog named Bumble who is sight and hearing impaired win the MVP, the Most Valuable Pup, and rightfully so, because he deserved it.
From Salon • Feb. 9, 2025
“For the hearing impaired community, this failure was hurtful.”
From Washington Post • Feb. 9, 2023
Charlotte Little from Aberdeen is visually and hearing impaired and works as an access consultant.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2022
Her father spent much of his time away from home while founding churches for the hearing impaired.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 23, 2022
In other words, if you are not hearing impaired, your ear will pick up and receive sounds.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
