The term "hearing-impaired" refers to individuals who have partial or total inability to hear. This condition can vary in severity, affecting how well a person can understand sounds, speech, or music. Hearing impairment can be present at birth or develop later in life due to various factors, including age, illness, or exposure to loud noises. People who are hearing-impaired may use different methods to communicate, such as sign language, lip reading, or hearing aids. Supportive technologies and services, like captioning and assistive listening devices, can help improve their ability to engage in conversations and access information in various environments.