Which term describes a condition of being unable to speak?

Mutism refers to a condition where an individual is unable to speak, which can occur for various reasons, including psychological factors, traumatic events, or neurological conditions. It may be a temporary state or a more persistent condition.

In contrast to mutism, apraxia involves difficulty with the motor planning needed to perform speech tasks, which means the person may know what they want to say but struggles with the physical act of speaking. Oligophasia refers to a limited speech capacity, where a person speaks very little but is not entirely mute. Dysphasia denotes difficulties in language processing, often stemming from neurological issues, and affects a person's ability to comprehend or formulate language rather than the ability to speak entirely. Thus, mutism is the most accurate term for a complete inability to speak.