§ 24. deaf-mute. 6. Names and Labels. The American Heritage Book of English Usage. 1996

The American Heritage® Book of English Usage.

A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English. 1996.

6. Names and Labels: Social, Racial, and Ethnic Terms

§ 24. deaf-mute

Though it may sound somewhat less offensive than deaf and dumb, the term deaf-mute is similarly objectionable for its implicit equation of deafness with an incapacity for speech or communication.	1
More at dumb.	2