In basic health awareness, what term is commonly used for a person who cannot hear?

Introduction / Context:
Questions on basic health awareness and terminology often appear in general knowledge exams. Understanding the correct and respectful term for different sensory impairments is important both for exams and for everyday communication. This question asks for the common term used to describe a person who cannot hear. Knowing this term helps you identify hearing related disorders and also encourages more accurate and sensitive use of language when speaking about people with disabilities.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The situation described is that a person cannot hear, which indicates a hearing impairment.
• The options provided include “Deaf,” “Dumb,” “Mute,” and “Blind.”
• We assume standard everyday language used in many textbooks and awareness materials, while also recognizing that modern usage emphasizes respectful phrasing.

Concept / Approach:
A person who has a severe or complete loss of hearing is commonly described as deaf. Modern respectful language often prefers phrases such as “a person who is deaf” or “a person with hearing impairment” rather than using the term alone as a label. The word “dumb” historically was used to refer to someone who could not speak, but it is now considered outdated and offensive. “Mute” specifically refers to the inability to speak, and “blind” refers to loss of vision. Therefore, for someone who cannot hear, the appropriate term from the given options is “deaf.”

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the condition described: the person cannot hear, which is a hearing related impairment.2. Match each option to its meaning. “Deaf” refers to people with serious hearing loss. “Dumb” is an old term for people who cannot speak. “Mute” also indicates inability to speak. “Blind” refers to inability to see.3. Only the term “deaf” directly relates to loss of hearing.4. Therefore, the correct answer that fits the description a person who cannot hear is “Deaf.”

Verification / Alternative check:
Health education materials and disability rights information commonly use the phrase “deaf and hard of hearing” to describe people with hearing loss. They emphasize communication methods such as sign language, lip reading, or hearing aids. In contrast, materials about visual impairment use terms like “blind” or “visually impaired,” and those about speech impairment may refer to people who are “unable to speak” or have speech disorders. This separation of terms across different senses confirms that “deaf” is the correct word associated with hearing loss.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, “Dumb,” is incorrect because it historically refers to inability to speak and is also considered disrespectful in modern usage. Option C, “Mute,” describes a person who cannot speak or has lost the ability to speak, not someone who cannot hear. Option D, “Blind,” is wrong because it relates to visual impairment or inability to see. None of these options directly indicate hearing loss, so they do not match the condition described in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to confuse hearing and speech impairments, assuming that a person who cannot speak is also unable to hear or vice versa. Another pitfall is repeating outdated or offensive terms without understanding their impact. Modern guidance encourages more respectful and precise language, such as “person who is deaf” rather than using labels alone. In exams, however, the term “deaf” is still widely used as the correct answer for a person who cannot hear, so keeping this definition in mind is important.

Final Answer:
In basic health awareness, a person who cannot hear is commonly referred to as deaf.