People who are born deaf are usually unable to talk. The most important reason for this is:

BHU NO-2019

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Appeared in: BHU NO-2019

Explanation

Speech is not an innate ability but a learned skill that develops during early childhood.
The primary mechanism for learning to speak is through listening to, processing, and imitating the language spoken by others.
Congenital deafness deprives an individual of the necessary auditory input required to naturally acquire spoken language.
While hearing oneself speak (auditory feedback) is important for refining speech, the initial learning comes from hearing others.
Evidence shows that without hearing or an effective alternative like sign language, language development is significantly delayed and often incomplete (SRC_20105).

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: The anatomical connection between the ear and throat (Eustachian tube) is for pressure equalization and fluid drainage, not for the neurological process of learning language.
Option B: This is a secondary issue. The primary reason for not being able to speak is the inability to hear and learn the language from the environment. Auditory feedback is for refining speech, not for initial acquisition.
Option C: This is a tautology or a circular argument. It restates the premise of the question (that they are born deaf) rather than providing a reason for the inability to speak.

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Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The relationship between hearing and speech development as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are instrumental in promoting and conducting universal newborn hearing screenings (e.g., otoacoustic emissions [OAE] or auditory brainstem response [ABR] tests) to identify hearing loss early.
Early identification (before 6 months of age) and intervention for hearing loss are critical to maximize a child's potential for language development, whether spoken or signed.
Patient education for parents of deaf children is crucial. Nurses can help them understand the importance of providing rich language exposure through methods like sign language, cued speech, or auditory-verbal therapy post-cochlear implant.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question. The question asks for the fundamental reason why congenital deafness leads to an inability to speak.
Analyze the relationship between the condition (deafness) and the outcome (inability to talk). This is a cause-and-effect question.
Evaluate each option to see if it provides a logical and primary cause.
Option A is an anatomical fact but is functionally unrelated to learning.
Option B describes a part of the speech process (feedback) but not the initial learning step.
Option C is a circular statement that offers no explanation.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The relationship between hearing and speech development.
Stem keywords: born deaf, unable to talk, reason
Lead-in keywords: most important

Question ID

QlXioJsOLNo2q_kIblfYNb

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 9727-9729, 11311-11313

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 6 p. 147-149

Explanation

Why Other Options Were Wrong

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Reference Book

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