“Hard of hearing” is widely accepted and, for most contexts, is the preferred term. The National Association of the Deaf, the Associated Press Stylebook, and the American Psychological Association all endorse it. If you’re wondering whether you should use it in conversation, writing, or professional settings, the short answer is yes, with a few nuances worth understanding.
What the Deaf Community Prefers
The National Association of the Deaf puts it plainly: “Overwhelmingly, deaf and hard of hearing people prefer to be called ‘deaf’ or ‘hard of hearing.'” The NAD strongly urges the phrase “deaf and hard of hearing” when referring to the broader community, and nearly all major organizations serving this population use the same pairing.
Terms like “hearing impaired,” “deaf-mute,” and “deaf and dumb” are considered outdated or offensive by the majority of deaf and hard of hearing people. “Hearing impaired” might sound neutral or even polite to outsiders, but it frames hearing loss purely as a deficit. Many people in the community reject that framing, and the NAD explicitly asks people to stop using it.
Why “Hearing Impaired” Fell Out of Favor
The shift away from “hearing impaired” reflects a broader change in how disability is discussed. The medical model treats deafness as a problem to be fixed. The social and cultural model, by contrast, views Deafness (often written with a capital D) as an identity, not a deficiency. Membership in the Deaf community is seen as a source of shared culture, language, and pride rather than something to be “corrected.”
When you call someone “hearing impaired,” you center the conversation on what’s missing. “Hard of hearing” simply describes a degree of hearing loss without the same negative connotation. It’s a small difference in wording, but it matters to the people being described.
Hard of Hearing vs. Deaf
Clinically, these terms refer to different levels of hearing loss. Adults with hearing thresholds up to about 25 decibels are considered to have normal hearing. At around 40 decibels of loss in both ears, most people experience functional difficulty and could benefit from hearing aids. The term “deaf” is generally applied when loss exceeds 90 decibels, a level considered profound.
“Hard of hearing” covers the broad middle ground: people who have some degree of hearing loss but still use spoken language as their primary mode of communication. Many people who are hard of hearing use hearing aids, cochlear implants, or captioning to navigate daily life. They may or may not know sign language, and they may or may not identify with Deaf culture.
Someone who is culturally Deaf, on the other hand, typically uses sign language, participates in the Deaf community, and identifies with that culture. The AP Stylebook draws a useful distinction here: uppercase “Deaf” refers to the culture and community built around shared experience and sign language, while lowercase “deaf” describes the audiological condition of total or major hearing loss.
Person-First vs. Identity-First Language
You’ll sometimes see “person who is hard of hearing” (person-first) and “hard of hearing person” (identity-first) used interchangeably. Both are acceptable. The American Psychological Association’s current guidelines endorse either approach, recommending that writers follow the preference of the individual or group being discussed.
Person-first language (“a person with hearing loss”) emphasizes the individual over the condition. Identity-first language (“a Deaf person”) allows someone to claim that identity as central to who they are. In practice, many Deaf people prefer identity-first language because they see deafness as a core part of their identity, not an add-on. People who are hard of hearing may lean either way. When in doubt, just ask.
What Style Guides and Laws Say
The AP Stylebook, which sets the standard for most journalism, recommends “hard of hearing” for people with a lesser degree of hearing loss. U.S. federal law, including ADA guidelines, uses phrases like “people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or are deaf-blind” in its official language. Neither the AP nor the ADA uses “hearing impaired.”
Professional organizations in audiology have also moved toward updated terminology. The Educational Audiology Association published recommended terminology guidelines that reflect this shift, though they note some regional variation. In the United Kingdom, for instance, “hard of hearing” is sometimes considered outdated and, when used at all, tends to refer specifically to age-related hearing loss. British English more commonly uses “deaf” or “person with hearing loss” across the board.
How to Choose the Right Term
If you’re writing or speaking about someone and you’re not sure what term to use, a few principles make it simple. Use “hard of hearing” for anyone with partial hearing loss. Use “deaf” (lowercase) when referring to significant or total hearing loss as a medical reality. Use “Deaf” (uppercase) when referring to the cultural community and identity. Avoid “hearing impaired,” “deaf-mute,” and “deaf and dumb” entirely.
If you’re talking to or about a specific person, their preference overrides any style guide. Some older adults prefer “hearing impaired” because that’s what they grew up with, and respecting an individual’s choice is more important than following a blanket rule. But as a default for writing, formal communication, or talking about the community as a whole, “deaf and hard of hearing” is the standard that the community itself has chosen.