dövstum

Dövstum is a term that has appeared in Turkish-language historical texts to refer to a person who is deaf and mute. The exact meaning and usage of the word vary by source, and it is generally considered archaic or regional in modern Turkish. In available sources, the etymology is not consistently documented, and scholars often treat dövstum as a historical label rather than a precise clinical term.

Historical usage of dövstum appears mainly in late 19th and early 20th century medical, educational, and religious writings. In these contexts, it was used to classify individuals with combined hearing and speech impairments, sometimes alongside other labels such as sağır (deaf) and dilsiz (mute). The term reflects older discourses around disability that emphasized classification and medicalized understandings rather than contemporary frameworks that foreground autonomy, culture, and communication rights.

Contemporary context emphasizes that dövstum is rarely used and can be perceived as pejorative or stigmatizing. Modern Turkish terminology tends to distinguish more specifically between hearing impairment and speech limitations, using phrases such as işitme engelli (hearing impaired) or, in historical or clinical discussion, identifying distinct conditions separately. There is also greater attention to Deaf culture and sign languages, which influence how communities describe communication differences.

Overall, dövstum is primarily of historical interest, illustrating how disability labels have evolved over time in Turkish-speaking contexts. Related topics include deaf education, sign language, and disability rights movements.