Eli5 What is the difference between being “mute” and being “nonverbal”?
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Being “mute” means that a person is physically unable to speak or chooses not to speak, even though they have the ability to, while “nonverbal” means someone who doesn’t use spoken words to communicate, but may still use gestures, sign language, or other forms of communication to express themselves.
So, think of it like this: someone who is “mute” is like a TV with no sound – there’s no way for them to speak. Someone who is “nonverbal” is like a TV that’s on mute – they can still communicate, but not through spoken words.
in certain highly stressful situations, i go nonverbal.
i absolutely have the mental and physical ability to speak. however, usually as a stress response, my throat clamps shut and i cannot utter speech.
in contrast, there are some people who are mute. they lack the physical and/or mental ability to speak. this can include deaf folks, because the brain does not know what speech is supposed to sound like and this cannot attempt easily to make those sounds that are not heard.
There are multiple definitions of both words. They are similar, but in general, a “mute” person is incapable of speech, for any reason–it could be a physical defect (such as damage to the vocal chords) or a mental defect which prevents the brain from forming words and sending proper signals to the vocal chords to initiate speech.
A “nonverbal” person may be capable of speech but chooses–either consciously or subconsciously–not to speak. This may be the result of conditions such as autism, or someone who suffers severe mental trauma and simply refuses to speak at all. In such cases, the person is technically able to speak, and eventually, they may choose to speak, whereas a mute person simply cannot speak, no matter what (barring something like medical treatment capable of curing the mute condition).
There are multiple definitions of both words. They are similar, but in general, a “mute” person is incapable of speech, for any reason–it could be a physical defect (such as damage to the vocal chords) or a mental defect which prevents the brain from forming words and sending proper signals to the vocal chords to initiate speech.
A “nonverbal” person may be capable of speech but chooses–either consciously or subconsciously–not to speak. This may be the result of conditions such as autism, or someone who suffers severe mental trauma and simply refuses to speak at all. In such cases, the person is technically able to speak, and eventually, they may choose to speak, whereas a mute person simply cannot speak, no matter what (barring something like medical treatment capable of curing the mute condition).
Being “mute” means that a person is physically unable to speak or chooses not to speak, even though they have the ability to, while “nonverbal” means someone who doesn’t use spoken words to communicate, but may still use gestures, sign language, or other forms of communication to express themselves.
So, think of it like this: someone who is “mute” is like a TV with no sound – there’s no way for them to speak. Someone who is “nonverbal” is like a TV that’s on mute – they can still communicate, but not through spoken words.
in certain highly stressful situations, i go nonverbal.
i absolutely have the mental and physical ability to speak. however, usually as a stress response, my throat clamps shut and i cannot utter speech.
in contrast, there are some people who are mute. they lack the physical and/or mental ability to speak. this can include deaf folks, because the brain does not know what speech is supposed to sound like and this cannot attempt easily to make those sounds that are not heard.
Mute = can’t speak even if they want to
Non-verbal = may have the ability to talk but does not or will not
Selective Mutism = able to speak in some situations but not others
(I once had a student [preschool age] that could speak a few words at home, but was completely unable to speak to us at school at all)
After 1 1/2 of speech therapy we were finally able to get him to say a few things at school!
There are multiple definitions of both words. They are similar, but in general, a “mute” person is incapable of speech, for any reason–it could be a physical defect (such as damage to the vocal chords) or a mental defect which prevents the brain from forming words and sending proper signals to the vocal chords to initiate speech.
A “nonverbal” person may be capable of speech but chooses–either consciously or subconsciously–not to speak. This may be the result of conditions such as autism, or someone who suffers severe mental trauma and simply refuses to speak at all. In such cases, the person is technically able to speak, and eventually, they may choose to speak, whereas a mute person simply cannot speak, no matter what (barring something like medical treatment capable of curing the mute condition).
in certain highly stressful situations, i go nonverbal.
i absolutely have the mental and physical ability to speak. however, usually as a stress response, my throat clamps shut and i cannot utter speech.
in contrast, there are some people who are mute. they lack the physical and/or mental ability to speak. this can include deaf folks, because the brain does not know what speech is supposed to sound like and this cannot attempt easily to make those sounds that are not heard.
Mute = can’t speak even if they want to
Non-verbal = may have the ability to talk but does not or will not
Selective Mutism = able to speak in some situations but not others
(I once had a student [preschool age] that could speak a few words at home, but was completely unable to speak to us at school at all)
After 1 1/2 of speech therapy we were finally able to get him to say a few things at school!
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