Deaf mutism

Japanese: 聾啞 - ろうあ（英語表記）deaf mutism

Although the word deafness is not used much these days, it refers to so-called severe hearing loss, and the state in which a person is unable to learn language and cannot speak due to severe hearing loss from birth or within the first three years of life is called deafness. Historically, the word "mimishii" was used, and as a slang term "tunbo" was used. In addition, the state in which a person does not have a hearing impairment but language development is delayed and they can hardly speak at all is called cho-shu. Historically, the state of being unable to speak due to deafness or cho-shu was called "ooshi" or "oshi."

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

聾啞は今日あまり用いられない言葉ではあるが，いわゆる高度難聴を聾といい，生まれつき，または生後3歳以内に高度の難聴になったために，言語学習ができなくて発語のできない状態を聾啞という。歴史的には〈みみしい〉，俗語としては〈つんぼ〉という言葉が使われた。なお，聴覚障害はないが，言語の発達が遅れてほとんど話すことができない状態を聴啞という。また，聾啞または聴啞で話すことができない状態を歴史的には〈おおし〉または〈おし〉といった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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