impaired

Everyday

1. Impaired means weakened, damaged or not working as well as normal. tree →
2. Used about the body: visually impaired means having poor sight; hearing impaired means having poor hearing. tree →
3. (verb) To impair something is to damage it or make it work less well. tree →

In the lessons

In health and inclusion lessons, «visually impaired» and «hearing impaired» are respectful ways to describe people with sight or hearing loss. In safety lessons, drivers' judgement is impaired by tiredness, alcohol or phones. Phrases: visually impaired, hearing impaired, impaired judgement.

Examples

• A visually impaired girl reads with Braille. tree →
• Tiredness impaired the driver's judgement. tree →
• The fog impaired our view of the road. tree →
• Loud music can impair your hearing over time. tree →
• The school has ramps and lifts for pupils with impaired movement. tree →
• His speech was impaired after the accident. tree →
• Looking at your phone impairs your attention when crossing the road. tree →

Note

Past of «impair». Noun: impairment. «Visually impaired» is polite and common; some people prefer «blind» or «partially sighted». Not the same as «paired» (in pairs).