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

Usage

See elderly

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

A Deaf- and family-owned business, Pi00a sells Neapolitan pizzas with Asian influences and a mission to provide jobs for the hard of hearing.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Osei also criticised Ms Pokua for saying that Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, who is in his 70s, was hard of hearing.

From BBC

That will be the case in the Cup Final for Jason Altmann, who is third generation Deaf and P-X-P’s chief operating officer, and Noah Blankenship from Denver’s Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.

From Seattle Times

“We know there are millions of deaf and hard of hearing hockey fans — and many more who have yet to fall in love with the sport,” LaCaruba said.

From Seattle Times

Filmmaker Alison O’Daniel, who identifies as deaf/hard of hearing, used these thefts as a jumping off point in her experimental work that attempts to understand the role of sound in our lives.

From Seattle Times