What's the Difference between Hearing Impaired, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf?

In today's society, we like our labels. It assists us to understand who and what we are. It assists us to understand how to pass on with person when we cognize their label. Imagine, if we knew what "Deaf" meant, we would not inquire that individual to go to the local symphony's public presentation showcasing a choice of Mozart's music.

"Hearing Impaired" depicts person with some grade of hearing loss. This is a term used as a medical verbal description of person who have less than normal hearing. Traditionally, there are five degrees of hearing loss:

• "Mild" loss (25-40 dB);

• "Moderate" loss (41-55 dB);

• "Moderate-Severe" loss (56-70 dB);

• "Severe" loss (71-90 dB); and

• "Profound" loss (91 decibel or higher).

Someone who is "Deaf" would fall under this "label". People who have got had a "cochlear implant' would fall into this class too. So you can see that it is an umbrella term covering all facets of hearing loss.

"Hard of Hearing" depicts person with a grade of hearing as identified above who utilizes elaboration to help them in hearing i.e. hearing aids, assistive hearing devices such as as amplified telephones. The primary agency of communicating is by address (oral) although a little figure make larn mark language. By using hearing aids, assistive hearing devices and speechreading they are able to work very well in doing mundane things that hearing people do.

"Deaf" depicts person who have no hearing or a severe/profound hearing loss. Their primary agency of communicating is by mark language. By using some assistive hearing devices and speechreading, they too are able to work very well in doing mundane things.

"Deaf" depicts person who have small or no hearing and still utilizes unwritten communicating to pass on with others.

So you can see that while the footing look similar, they are in fact quite distinct in their definition. As I had a terrible hearing loss growing up, I was orally adept and thus was able to work with my hearing loss reasonably well. I was able to utilize the telephone set and work in business offices doing all the undertakings required. Later in life, my hearing loss became a profound hearing loss but I still work well using my hearing aids, speechreading and assistive hearing devices for the telephone set and the television. Since childhood, I have got always described myself as "hard of hearing".