prelingual
/priːˈlɪŋɡwəl/Definitions
1. adjective
relating to or characteristic of a person who has lost the ability to speak, especially a person who became deaf before learning to speak.
“The prelingual patient was able to communicate through sign language.”
2. noun
a person who has lost the ability to speak, especially a person who became deaf before learning to speak.
“The prelingual children attended a special school for the deaf.”