deaf mute
adjectiveDescribing a person who cannot hear or speak, now considered offensive. Modern usage prefers describing the specific condition (e.g., 'deaf', 'nonverbal') rather than using this label.
nounAn outdated and offensive term for a person who cannot hear or speak. Many deaf people communicate using sign language and do not consider themselves 'mute'. Preferred modern terms include 'deaf person', 'hard of hearing person', or 'nonverbal person'.