deaf person; hearing-impaired person
A person with hearing loss; often used in medical or social welfare contexts. Can refer to both those who are deaf and those who are hard of hearing.
Hearing aids for the hearing-impaired are advancing.
He is deaf, but can communicate using sign language.
Refers specifically to a deaf person, often one who uses sign language as a primary means of communication. 難聴者 can include those who are hard of hearing.
Compound of 難聴 (nanchō, 'hearing loss') + 者 (sha, 'person').