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There is often confusion and controversy over the
terms, "hearing impaired," “hearing disability”, "hard of
hearing," "deaf," and "deafened," both in definition and
appropriateness of use.
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The term "hearing impaired" is a term often used
to describe people with any degree of hearing loss. Many
individuals who are D/HOH prefer the terms "Deaf"
and "Hard of Hearing".
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More than any of the groups who are commonly
labeled as “disabled or impaired”, those who are deaf are much
less inclined to think of their condition as a disability.
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"Deafened" usually refers to a person who loses a
significant amount of hearing as an adult and, therefore, faces
different challenges than those of a person who became deaf at
birth or as a child.
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For more information on appropriate terminology,
consult the resource at the National Association of the Deaf
titled
What is Wrong with the Use of these Terms: "Deaf-mute", "Deaf
and dumb", or "Hearing-impaired"?