The condition of being both deaf and mute, unable to hear or speak.
From 'deaf' + 'mute' + '-ness' suffix (forming abstract nouns of states or conditions). This combines two disabilities into one compound noun describing their combined effect.
While modern medical language avoids 'deaf-mute' as potentially stigmatizing, the historical term reminds us that people with both hearing and speech differences developed incredible communication systems like sign language!
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