deafer

More hearing impaired

Deafer is the comparative form of deaf, describing someone with more hearing loss than another: He's even deafer than his brother.

Though grammatically correct, *more deaf* is often preferred in formal contexts.

The word also applies to figurative deafness—being more unwilling to listen: The committee grew deafer to our complaints with each meeting.

silence

soundlessness

Total absence of noise

muffledMade quieter, less distinct
mutedMade quieter or softer
inaudibleCannot be heard

faint · quieter · hushed · dampened · dulled · fading

hearing-loss

hearing aid

Ear-worn sound amplifier

cochlear implantImplanted auditory nerve stimulator
audiologistHearing disorder specialist
audiogramHearing ability chart

tinnitus · conductive · audiometry · decibels · earwax · ear infection · otoscope · eustachian tube · hertz · noise exposure

signing

ASL

Manual visual communication system

BSLBritish sign language
fingerspellingLetter-by-letter hand alphabet
interpreterOne who conveys meaning between languages

gesture · nonverbal · manual · visual · expression · closed captions · subtitles · TTY

isolation

loneliness

State of lacking companions

alienationState of being isolated
exclusionBeing barred from participation
disconnectionState of being severed

estrangement · withdrawal · miscommunication · frustration · misunderstanding · marginalization · inaccessibility · barrier · overlooked · ignored

Opposites

auditory capacity

Perceiving sound waves

Phrases

tone deafCannot perceive pitch differences
deafening silenceConspicuous lack of sound
fall on deaf earsBe ignored despite being spoken
deaf as a doorpostUtterly without hearing
turn a deaf earIntentionally refuse to listen
fallen on deaf earsIgnored despite being said

Family

deaf, deafening, deafen, deafness, deafened, deafeningly

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G