Who is Considered Deaf or Hard of Hearing?
Hearing loss affects between 21 and 28 million Americans (about 10% of the U.S. population). The loss may range from mild (difficulty with or inability to hear soft sounds) to profound (difficulty with or inability to hear loud sounds). Generally speaking, this group can be divided into persons who are either hard of hearing or deaf. Persons who are hard of hearing represent roughly 20 to 22 million people. The term “hard of hearing” refers to a hearing loss from 25dB (mild loss) to 90dB (severe loss). An individual with this degree of loss frequently communicates using a combination of strategies that rely on residual auditory ability enhanced by a hearing aid or assistive listening device and often supplemented through lipreading or other visual means. Deafness is a low prevalence condition, affecting approximately one and a half-million persons. The term “deaf” refers to a hearing loss greater than 90dB (profound hearing loss). Persons are considered “deaf” if their hearing loss is
