DEFINITION:
Total, permanent and profound loss of hearing in both ears, with an auditory threshold of more than 90 decibels, as confirmed by an otolaryngologist registered to practice in Canada.

INTERPRETATION:
Deafness can result from an accident, injury or illness. The amount of hearing loss required to qualify under this definition is precisely spelled out and can be easily measured and accurately confirmed by professional testing. A legally deaf individual could qualify under this definition.