difficulty hearing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficulty hearing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a person's challenge in perceiving sounds or understanding speech, often in medical or educational contexts. Example: "Due to her difficulty hearing, she often relies on lip reading to communicate effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He still has difficulty hearing in one ear.

The New York Times

In 2008, she began to have difficulty hearing.

The New York Times

Q. Nearing 70, I have increasing difficulty hearing conversations, yet music in restaurants is too loud.

The New York Times - Science

Soon enough Biden did finish, but reporters had difficulty hearing the entire thing because of the fisticuffs.

The New Yorker

The biggest single users of the fund are people who have difficulty seeing and people who have difficulty hearing.

Independent

Haiti in Our Minds A wail is a type of sound any human being would find difficulty hearing.

The New York Times

I use hearing aids, but still have great difficulty hearing conversation in restaurants and in large group settings.

The New York Times

For the first time in four years, Islander games will be heard on a station that its fans will not have difficulty hearing.

The New York Times - Sports

"That was such a terrible thing to do," said Mr. Henke, who has difficulty hearing conversation in crowded places and who compensates by saying very little.

The New York Times

One of them shouted to Jorden's great-grandmother, who was sitting on the couch and seemed to have difficulty hearing what was going on.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hearing at baseline was assessed by asking the following three questions:" Do you have difficulties hearing when having a conversation with several people simultaneously?", "Do you have difficulty hearing when conversing with another person in the presence of noise?", and "Do you have difficulties hearing where a particular sound (i.e. phone ringing, sound of a car) is coming from?".

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's hearing, use "difficulty hearing" to indicate a specific challenge rather than a complete inability to hear. For a general condition, consider "hearing loss".

Common error

Avoid using "difficulty hearing" when referring to complete deafness. "Difficulty hearing" suggests a partial impairment, while deafness implies a total or near-total loss of hearing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficulty hearing" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It describes a condition or state of impaired auditory perception. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Science

27%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficulty hearing" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe impaired auditory perception. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct. Its usage spans various contexts, including news reports, scientific publications, and everyday conversations. While "difficulty hearing" is versatile, it's important to differentiate it from deafness, which indicates a complete loss of hearing. Consider using alternatives like "hearing loss" or "hearing impairment" for a more general description. Remember to use "difficulty hearing" to specify a challenge rather than a total inability to hear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hearing impairment

A general term for any level of hearing loss.

hearing loss

Indicates a reduction in the ability to hear sounds.

auditory impairment

A formal term describing a problem with hearing ability.

hard of hearing

A common and less clinical way to describe mild to moderate hearing loss.

hearing deficit

Emphasizes a lack or shortage in auditory ability.

impaired auditory perception

Focuses on the perception and understanding of sounds.

reduced hearing acuity

Highlights the sharpness and clarity of hearing.

challenges in auditory comprehension

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding what is heard.

auditory processing disorder

Specific to the brain's ability to process auditory information.

communication difficulties due to hearing

Highlights the impact of hearing problems on communication.

FAQs

How to use "difficulty hearing" in a sentence?

You can use "difficulty hearing" to describe someone's impaired ability to perceive sounds. For example: "Due to her difficulty hearing, she relies on lip reading."

What can I say instead of "difficulty hearing"?

You can use alternatives like "hearing loss", "hearing impairment", or "hard of hearing" depending on the context.

What causes "difficulty hearing"?

Difficulty hearing can be caused by various factors including age-related hearing loss, noise exposure, genetics, infections, and certain medications.

Is "difficulty hearing" the same as being deaf?

"Difficulty hearing" describes a range of hearing impairments, from mild to severe, but it is not the same as deafness. Deafness refers to a complete or near-complete loss of hearing.