If someone is mute it is implied that he cannot hear?

Question

Is the lack of speech always related to the lack of hearing or are there cases when someone that can hear things still cannot speak.

Answer 1

Deaf-mute was a term historically used by hearing people to identify a person who was deaf and could not speak. This term first appears in the Code of Hammurabi, an ancient set of laws from the near east, in 1700 BCE. [1] It is also referenced in ancient Greek writing of the 7th century BCE. It continues to be used to refer to deaf people, mainly within a historical context, to indicate deaf people who cannot speak, or have some degree of speaking ability, but choose not to speak because of the negative or unwanted attention atypical voices sometimes attract.

Additionally, it is sometimes used to refer to other hearing people in jest, to chide, or to invoke an image of someone who refuses to employ common sense or who is unreliable. "Deaf and dumb," "semi-deaf" and "semi-mute" are other historic references to deaf people. Of these latter examples, only "deaf and dumb" prevails as a reference.

There are connotations of insensitivity to deaf people concerning these terms of reference and for this reason the prevailing terms are generally looked upon as insulting, inaccurate or socially and politically incorrect. From antiquity (as noted in the Code of Hammurabi) until recent (and less enlightened) times [2], the terms "deaf-mute" and "deaf and dumb" were even considered analogous to "idiot" by some hearing people.

In Europe and western society, most deaf people are taught to speak with varying outcomes of ability or degrees of fluency. The simple identity of "deaf" has been embraced by the community of signing deaf people since the foundations of public deaf education in the 18th century and remains the preferred term of reference or identity today.

Answer 2

Mute means that the person cannot speak - it has nothing to do with his or her hearing. Someone who cannot hear or speak would be a deaf-mute but I'm not sure they care to be called that anymore.

Answer 3

a mute isn't always deaf...
same as the deaf isn't necessarily mute.
In high school, I was a hearing mute. I listened but I didn't speak. It was a shock to people in 12th grade when I stood and gave a speech. : )

Answer 4

Some people yes can not hear nor speak however their are cases where a person can't speak due to problems with their vocal cords and/or throat. Most commonly though is not being able to hear and able to speak

Answer 5

I do not believe it is implied. They are both conditions that can occur independently. People who are born deaf never hear human language, so they often don't develop the capacity to speak or to speak clearly. That being said, there are people out there who can hear, but who have lost, for one reason or another, the ability to speak.

Answer 6

There are cases where people can hear but not speak...Being deaf doesn't necessarily mean mute.., but people born deaf aren't able to hear sounds so they are "mute" and unable to speak....They can be taught to speak..

Answer 7

Being mute means that you cant talk, many Autistic kids can hear but cant or won't talk. I f you know of the story of Helen Keller, remember they said she was deaf, dumb, and blind. Well the dumb part they were referring to was when she could not talk but the proper way to say she couldn't talk is that she was mute.

Answer 8

Yes, some mutes can hear just fine.

Answer 9

No. You can have cancer of the throat or esophagus and lose the ability to speak. Vocal chord damage can do the same thing.

Answer 10

No, autistic children sometimes have difficulty speaking but can hear just fine.