# deaf-dumb-and-blindness and pinball wizardry

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-dumb-and-blindness-and-pinball-wizardry/38675>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 27, 2000, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-dumb-and-blindness-and-pinball-wizardry/38675 "2000-10-27T23:45:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-dumb-and-blindness-and-pinball-wizardry/38675/21 "2000-10-30T03:26:39Z")

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Handy said:

> [@](#):
>
> Also David B, ‘mute’ is no longer used.

Um. Then what is?

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-dumb-and-blindness-and-pinball-wizardry/38675/22 "2000-10-30T03:55:56Z")

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handy, mute _is_ used. Stephen Hawking is mute: He had his larynx removed due to a disease and now can no longer speak. He communicates via a text-to-speech program on his wheelchair’s computer. Someone who had their larynx shot off, to use an extreme example, or who lacks speech centers in their brain (perhaps due to organic brain damage) would be mute. So don’t try to say that a valid term is ‘not used’ without reason.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-dumb-and-blindness-and-pinball-wizardry/38675/23 "2000-10-30T15:22:10Z")

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“handy, mute is used”  
Not in reference to a deaf person. e.g. ‘deaf mute’  
Mute is used in the reference you gave.

David B. they can use ‘non-speaking’ deaf.

Deaf people are not mute, they are LOUD & their voice is often shrill [I guess thats the word]. They can’t hear themselves talk so no voice regulation.

If Tommy could do so great today, there would have been a sequel.

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