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Meaning & use

hard of hearing

adjective·Everydayeuphemistic

Last updated

UK/ˌhɑːd əv ˈhɪərɪŋ/
US/ˌhɑːrd əv ˈhɪrɪŋ/

Meaning

  1. adjectiveafter a verb

    Not able to hear well, because of partial loss of hearing.

    Grammar: Comes after a verb like be or become: my uncle is hard of hearing.

    Patterns

    • be hard of hearing
    • become hard of hearing

    My grandfather is hard of hearing, so please speak up.

    The theatre offers a loop system for people who are hard of hearing.

    She became hard of hearing in her seventies.

Common combinations

be hard of hearing
Several residents are hard of hearing.
become hard of hearing
He became hard of hearing after years in a noisy factory.
slightly hard of hearing
She is slightly hard of hearing in her left ear.
for the hard of hearing
The event had subtitles for the hard of hearing.
a bit hard of hearing
Speak slowly; my aunt is a bit hard of hearing.

Synonyms and how they differ

deaf
Deaf can mean total hearing loss or a cultural identity, while hard of hearing means some hearing remains.
hearing-impaired
Hearing-impaired is a more formal, clinical term, and some people find it less respectful.
partially deaf
Partially deaf says the same thing more directly, while hard of hearing sounds softer.

Opposites

sharp-eared

Word family

hearing noun
the ability to hear
hear verb
to take in sound through the ears
deaf adjective
unable to hear fully or at all
hearing aid noun
a small device that helps people hear

Commonly confused: hard of hearing or hard to hear?

hard of hearing vs hard to hear

Hard to hear describes a sound that is difficult to catch, not a person with reduced hearing.

Practice

Please speak a little louder; my grandmother is ____.

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