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Hard-of-hearing for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: 'hɑrdəv'hirɪŋ

What does Hard-of-hearing really mean?

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Hard-of-hearing is a term that we use to describe someone who has difficulties hearing sounds, but they are not completely deaf. Let me break it down for you in a way that's easy to understand. Imagine you're at a party, surrounded by people, talking and laughing. Now, if you have normal hearing, you are able to hear all those sounds pretty clearly, right? However, if you are hard-of-hearing, those sounds might not reach your ears as clearly as they do for others. It's like listening to your favorite song on a broken speaker. Some parts might be muffled or distorted, and you miss out on some of the details.

So, being hard-of-hearing means that someone's ears have a harder time picking up and understanding sounds. It can happen for a variety of reasons, like problems with the tiny hair cells in the inner ear (called the cochlea) or issues with the auditory nerve that connects the ear to the brain. These problems can make it challenging for people to hear certain pitches or volumes of sound.

Now, being hard-of-hearing doesn't mean a person can't hear anything at all. They can still hear some sounds, but they might need assistance to hear clearly, like hearing aids or other devices. Just like wearing glasses helps people with blurry vision see better, hearing aids can help people with hearing difficulties hear better. They amplify sounds so that they become more distinct and understandable.

It's important to remember that being hard-of-hearing is not something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. It's just a different way of experiencing the world around us. People who are hard-of-hearing can still lead full and meaningful lives, just like anyone else. It's just that they may need some additional support and understanding from others, like speaking louder and facing them when talking, or using visual cues like gestures or written communication.

So, to sum it up, being hard-of-hearing means having difficulty hearing sounds clearly, but not being completely deaf. It can be compared to listening to music on a broken speaker, where certain parts are muffled or distorted. People who are hard-of-hearing may use devices like hearing aids to help them hear better. It's important to be patient and understanding towards individuals who are hard-of-hearing, and to provide them with the support they need to fully participate in conversations and activities.

Revised and Fact checked by Olivia Martin on 2023-10-29 08:11:01

Hard-of-hearing In a sentece

Learn how to use Hard-of-hearing inside a sentece

  • A person who is hard-of-hearing might have difficulty hearing conversations in noisy places, like a crowded restaurant.
  • When watching TV, a hard-of-hearing individual may need to turn up the volume louder than others to hear the dialogue clearly.
  • A hard-of-hearing student may benefit from sitting in the front row of the classroom to help them hear the teacher better.
  • A hard-of-hearing person might use special devices, like hearing aids or cochlear implants, to improve their ability to hear sounds.
  • During a movie, a hard-of-hearing individual can use closed captions on the screen to understand the dialogue even if they struggle to hear it.

Hard-of-hearing Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Hard-of-hearing Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.