Deaf people think just like anyone else but may use different “languages” for their thoughts. While hearing individuals often think in words, deaf individuals might think in sign language, a mix of signs and written words, or through visual images and gestures.
THINKING IN SIGN LANGUAGE
For many deaf people who use sign language, their thoughts occur in that language. They might visualize themselves signing or picture signs in their minds, similar to how hearing people “hear” words internally.
WHEN DO DEAF PEOPLE THINK IN SIGN LANGUAGE?
Deaf individuals who learn sign language from an early age often think in that language. Their brains adapt to process information visually, making it natural for them to think in signs. This is analogous to how hearing people think in their spoken language.
DEAF PEOPLE WITHOUT SIGN LANGUAGE
Not all deaf people use sign language. Those who lose their hearing later in life or are taught to read lips might think in words or the spoken language they used before becoming deaf. Their thoughts may involve written language or lip-reading.
BRAIN ADAPTATION
The brain is highly adaptable. In deaf individuals, it processes information visually rather than through sound. This adaptation allows them to visualize signs, images, or written text when thinking, with studies showing that deaf people who use sign language have active brain regions for processing visual information.
DREAMING IN SIGN LANGUAGE
Deaf people, like hearing individuals, dream in the language they use. Those who use sign language might dream of signing, while those who use written language or lip-reading might dream in these forms of communication.
SUMMARY
The language in which deaf people think depends on their personal experiences, their age when they became deaf, and their mode of communication.