Inclusive Language: Hard-of-Hearing vs. Hearing Impaired

A recent article from Healthy Hearing highlights why “Hard-of-Hearing” is now a standard term and “hearing impaired” has become outdated and offensive to some people. The reasoning is the difference between emphasizing limitations rather than capabilities. While “impairment” in any context carries a negative connotation, many providers use “Hard-of-Hearing" to acknowledge an individual’s reality in a proactive way.

Read the full article to learn how this small change in dialogue is making a world of difference in the hearing loss community.

The effort you put into communicating empathetically with others can lead to greater understanding. In our blog, “Connection in Mixed Deaf, Hearing, and Hard-of-Hearing Families,” we explore how families put in the effort to connect across hearing statuses and the resources that support their communication.

To hear some of their stories or share with others, access the full blog here.