We the Deaf People agree that “hearing-impaired” is
no longer an acceptable term.
Here's why:
“Deaf” is a simple, neutral, nonjudgmental term denoting people who use their eyes to communicate via sign language and other visually-based means (such as text and open captions).
“Hearing-impaired” is a supposedly more “polite” term than “deaf.” We find it offensive, as it defines us in terms of what we lack. It labels us as broken machinery.
We’re not broken or
not impaired.
- “Deaf” does not exclude a sense of pride and identity as members of a linguistic-minority community.
- “Deaf” encompasses language, communication, arts, social relationships, and culture.
Deaf people resent being defined in terms of malfunctioning auditory machinery.
- “Hearing-impaired” is used as a euphemism for “deaf.” We don’t need euphemisms to deodorize our reality.
- “Hearing-impaired” is negative labeling, judgmental, and annoyingly vague.
“Hearing-impaired” is equivalent to the “N-word” in the Black community.
