Hard of hearing is defined as

• A. A temporary hearing loss with no impact on education.
• B. A permanent or fluctuating hearing impairment that adversely affects educational performance but is not included in the definition of deafness.
• C. A complete loss of hearing.
• D. A mild impairment that does not affect learning.

Answer: (B)

Hard of hearing refers to a significant hearing impairment that affects access to sound and learning in the classroom, and it can be permanent or fluctuate over time. This level of loss is not a complete inability to hear (that would be deafness), and it typically leads to educational challenges that can be addressed with appropriate supports, such as amplification, seating adjustments, or assistive listening devices. The key idea is that the impairment impairs educational performance, but it does not meet the definition of deafness.