Hearing

People with hearing disabilities have hearing loss that varies from mild to profound. The distinctions between the terms ‘deaf’, ‘deafened,’ ‘hard of hearing’ and ‘Deaf’ are based principally on the individual’s preferred language (spoken or sign), rather than on the actual degree of hearing loss.

The term ‘deaf’ describes someone who has severe to profound hearing loss.

‘Deafened’ refers to a person who loses their hearing after learning language.

A person who is ‘hard of hearing’ has some degree of hearing but cannot hear all frequencies. They may need a hearing aid to amplify sound.

Deaf spelled with a capital ‘D’ indicates people who are culturally Deaf and consider hearing loss and deafness as the basis of a distinct cultural group, rather than a disability.