Words shape how people see a child. When families first contact us, many use the words they have heard all their lives: mook-badhir, goonga-behra, hearing impaired.
We never correct anyone on a first call. But on our website, in our classrooms and in our app, we use different words, and we want to explain why.
“Mook” isn’t true
Mook means mute. Most deaf children have a voice. Many use it, and many deaf adults speak as well as sign. Calling a child “mute” describes something that usually isn’t so, and it quietly tells them their voice doesn’t count.
“Impaired” puts the problem first
“Hearing impaired” sounds polite, but it describes a child by what is missing. Many Deaf people prefer “deaf” or “hard of hearing”: plain words that describe without judging. In Hindi, we use बधिर (badhir), or say that a child has difficulty hearing (सुनने में कठिनाई).
Deaf, with a capital D
You may see us write “Deaf” with a capital D. That is how many people refer to the Deaf community and its culture: people who share a sign language, a history and a way of seeing the world. Our co-founder Alok is part of that community. When your child learns ISL, that community is open to them too.
The words we use
| We say | Instead of |
|---|---|
| deaf, hard of hearing, बधिर | mook-badhir, goonga-behra, hearing impaired |
| hearing children | normal children |
| Indian Sign Language, a full language | gestures, actions |
| identified as deaf | suffering from hearing loss |
What we ask of you
Nothing, except perhaps to notice. Use whichever words feel natural while you learn. Changing a few words can change how a child is seen, including by the people who love them most.