The purpose of the study was to identify key design features of virtual reality with head-mounted displays (HMD) and touchless interface for the hearing-impaired and hard-of-hearing learners. The virtual reality based training program was aimed to help hearing-impaired learners in machine operating learning, which requires spatial understanding to operate. We developed an immersive virtual learning environment prototype with an HMD (Oculus Rift) and a touchless natural user interface (Leap Motion) to identify the key design features required to enhance virtual reality for the hearing-impaired and hard-of-hearing learners. Two usability tests of the prototype were conducted, which revealed that several features in the system need revision and that the technology presents an enormous potential to help hearing-impaired learners by providing realistic and immersive learning experiences. After the usability tests of hearing-impaired students’ exploring the 3D virtual space, interviews were conducted, which also established that further revision of the system is needed, which would take into account the learners’ physical as well as cognitive characteristics.