5 Surprising Sounds Mute People Can Make (And The New Tech That Gives Them A Voice)

The common misconception that a person who is "mute" is entirely silent is often inaccurate, as of December 2025. The ability to produce sound is complex and depends heavily on the underlying cause of the inability to speak, which can range from psychological conditions like anxiety to physical damage to the vocal apparatus. While they may not be able to form words, many individuals labeled as mute can still generate a variety of vocalizations, challenging the traditional understanding of the term. The reality is that "mutism" is a broad term encompassing various conditions, and the capacity for sound production varies significantly between them. Understanding the difference between a person who is unable to speak *words* and a person who is unable to produce *any vocal sound* is the key to unlocking this frequently misunderstood topic.

The Critical Distinction: Sound vs. Speech

The ability to make a sound and the ability to speak are governed by different mechanisms in the body. Speech requires the coordinated effort of the lungs, the larynx (voice box), the pharynx, and articulators like the tongue and lips to shape air into recognizable words. Sound, however, simply requires the vibration of the vocal cords within the larynx.

Why Most Mute People Can Still Make Noise

In the majority of cases where a person is described as "mute," their inability to speak is not due to a physical defect in their vocal cords or larynx. Instead, it is often related to neurological, psychological, or developmental issues that affect the *planning and execution* of speech. Therefore, the physical structures needed to produce raw, non-linguistic sound remain functional. * Laryngeal Function: The larynx and vocal cords are responsible for basic sound (vocalization). If these are intact, the person can typically produce a sound when air is forced through them. * Reflexive Vocalizations: Sounds that are involuntary or reflexive—not requiring conscious speech planning—are often retained.

The term "mute" is increasingly being replaced by more precise terms like "nonspeaking" or "non-verbal" to better describe an individual's communication style, acknowledging that an absence of spoken words does not mean an absence of sound or communication.

5 Types of Sounds Mute Individuals Can Produce

The specific sounds an individual can make depend on the type and severity of their condition. For people whose mutism is not due to severe structural damage to the larynx, these non-speech sounds are common:

1. Laughter and Crying: These are two of the most universal and involuntary vocalizations. A person with selective mutism, for example, is often perfectly capable of laughing or crying, especially in a comfortable or private setting.
2. Coughing and Sneezing: These are vital protective reflexes that require the forceful expulsion of air, which causes the vocal cords to vibrate and produce sound. The ability to cough is a strong indicator that the larynx is physically functional.
3. Humming: Humming is a basic vocalization that doesn't require the complex articulation of the tongue or lips to form words. Many individuals who cannot speak can still hum a tune or produce a sustained vocal tone.
4. Whispering: Whispering involves producing sound without the full vibration of the vocal cords. People with conditions like aphonia (loss of voice) may only be able to communicate via a whisper, which is still a form of vocal sound.
5. Vocal Tones or Grunts: In moments of surprise, pain, frustration, or excitement, a person may produce involuntary vocal tones, grunts, or other non-speech noises. These sounds are often used as a form of non-verbal communication.

Understanding the Different Causes of Mutism

To fully answer the question, it is essential to look at the different classifications of mutism, as the cause dictates the capacity for sound production.

Selective Mutism (SM)

Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder, not a physical inability to speak. * Cause: Extreme social anxiety that causes a "freeze" response in specific social situations (e.g., at school or with strangers). * Sound Capacity: The person is fully capable of speaking and making all normal sounds (laughing, singing, crying) when they are in a safe, comfortable environment (like their own home). They are not truly "mute" but rather "situationally nonspeaking."

Neurogenic or Organic Mutism

This form of mutism is caused by damage to the brain or the nervous system pathways that control speech. * Cause: Brain injury, stroke, or conditions like cerebellar mutism (often following brain surgery). * Sound Capacity: The ability to make sounds depends on the location and severity of the brain damage. If the damage affects the motor planning for speech but spares the reflexive control of the larynx, non-speech sounds may still be possible.

Aphonia (Loss of Voice)

Aphonia is the condition that most closely aligns with the complete inability to produce vocal sound. * Cause: Damage or disease affecting the vocal cords or larynx, such as severe laryngitis, nerve damage, or psychogenic causes. * Sound Capacity: A person with true aphonia has "no voice" and is often unable to produce any vocal sound, sometimes only a whisper. This is the condition where the answer to "can they make sounds?" is most likely "no" or "minimal."

Cutting-Edge Technology: Giving a Voice to the "Soundless"

The most exciting and recent developments in communication technology are focused on helping those with severe aphonia or organic mutism—individuals who truly struggle to produce any vocal sound. This research highlights a future where even the most profoundly nonspeaking individuals can generate audible communication.

The Wearable Artificial Throat

In recent years, researchers have developed a highly advanced, wearable technology known as an artificial throat. * How it Works: This device is attached to the neck like a temporary tattoo. It uses sensors to detect subtle movements in the throat muscles, which are still present even if the vocal cords are not vibrating. * Function: The device translates these minuscule throat movements into synthesized speech or sounds. * Future Implications: Scientists believe that mute individuals could be trained to generate specific signals with their throats, which the device would then translate into clear, audible speech. This technology bypasses the damaged vocal cords entirely, offering a new pathway for vocal communication.

AI and Computer-Assisted Communication

Beyond the artificial throat, other advancements are enhancing the communication options for nonspeaking individuals: * AAC Devices: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices are becoming more sophisticated, using AI to predict and generate speech from eye-tracking, head movements, or simple button presses. * Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs): Though still largely experimental, BCIs are the frontier of this research, aiming to translate thought directly into speech, completely bypassing the need for any physical sound production.

Conclusion: The Nuance of Communication

The question "can mute people make sounds" has a nuanced answer: in most cases, yes, they can produce non-speech sounds like laughter, cries, and coughs, as their vocal cords are physically functional, especially in cases of selective mutism. The inability to speak is often an issue of neurological control or psychological barriers, not a lack of the sound-making apparatus itself. However, for those with severe aphonia or profound neurogenic mutism, the ability to produce even basic vocal sound is significantly impaired or lost. It is for these individuals that the latest research, particularly the development of the wearable artificial throat, offers the most profound hope for a future where the capacity for audible vocalization is restored, ensuring that "mute" will no longer mean "silent."