How do deaf people think? Is there a voice inside their head?

Question

My friend and I were having a conversation about this the other day. People who aren't deaf can hear a voice inside their heads when they think and read. But do deaf people have that? I doubt it because how would they know what sounds letters make. How do they comprehend written words and...

Answer 1

I get asked this all the time, and this is how I explain it:

Hearing people often "hear" a voice in the back of their head that typically sounds like their own voice, while thinking or even reading (especially if their native language is phonetic like English as opposed to a non-phonetic language like Mandrin Chinese). As for Deaf people, it really depends on your degree of Deafness, listening devices you might have (CIs or hearing aids), and how you were raised (ie: hearing, latened deaf, born Deaf, oral, cued speech, SEE signing exact english, ASL American Sign Language, hearing school, Deaf school, hearing family, Deaf family, etc.) alot of factors go into how someone might "think."

Personally "see" and sometimes even "feel" my signs that aren't really there, (kind of like you "hear" the voice in your head that isn't really there)... And sometimes I just actually, physically sign - which I guess is equivalent to talking to yourself or thinking aloud. Other times (depending on the topic) I think in images and pictures instead of a sign or word (kind of like a dream or a visualization, we do not have to think word-for-word, instead we just think very visually). I know that is hard to understand, but for example, while reading you might hear the words: "the-boy-ran-down-the-street" when I would just "see" the boy running down the street in my mind.

**Please keep in mind... this doesn't pertain to every (and probably not even most) Deaf people. as I mentioned before everyone is different, that is just how "I" think. This is because of I was raised::

ASL is my native/first language! Just like English is yours.... Although I use English quite often to communicate with hearing people, I use ASL far more than English: I've been profoundly Deaf since birth, I have no hearing devices, I come from a family mostly comprised of Deaf individuals, most of my friends are from the Deaf community, and I went to a Deaf school.

I am very proud of my family, my Deafness, our language (ASL), the Deaf community, it's history, and the Deaf culture as a whole!

So the short answer is: It Depends...
But we don't all have "a voice in the back of our heads." Although you might not be able to imagine thinking witout it... it just isn't necessacary for all of us. lol.

Hope this helps!!

Answer 2

Being deaf does not make a person stupid or unable to comprehend or learn. My friend is deaf and she thinks just like anyone else does. One thing that you are right about is that she does not hear things in her head but she still thinks. She feels music and can carry a tune singing along with the song. What was really cool while we were younger was how she could read lips so we always knew what other people were talking about in other groups that were standing away from us. She also talks just like anyone else and even speaks two languages. If you are really curious about this kind of stuff you can always go to a school for the deaf and ask someone there so you might have a better understanding.

Answer 3

I have a deaf friend carpentry works very well
And I asked him (via sign language) How do you learn woodworking? Answered by sight

He knows all measurements woodworking and he can compete with the best carpenters
So I think it depends on the sense of sight and sense of intuition
We must not forget that the German musician Beethoven that he was deaf and was at the same time playing music and he does not hear, how can he do that? The answer is by intuition

Yes, this is God's justice

Answer 4

An interesting point to ponder - bu that is all.

If deaf since birth, asking them would not help because they would have no frame of reference/concept. If had hearing and became deaf, then they do have a frame of reference and would hear a voice in their head.

This would be the same with a blind person. If blind since birth they would not have a clue about colors yet if had sight at one time they would visualize the color in their mind when they hear the word.

Answer 5

If they were profoundly deaf - i.e. have always been totally deaf from birth then no. The neural pathways that allow the brain to handle auditory cues are lost if they aren't exercised in the first 3 months after birth. A person that has become deaf later in life might hear phantom voices, but they are more likely to hear ringing in their ears. It's a type of phantom sensation much like amputees have phantom limbs.

Answer 6

If they haven't been born deaf they may have a "voice" in their head, but you don't need such a voice or even a spoken language to be able to think. It's omnly when you learn how to speak that you learn which thoughts go with which words. The words do not be the thoughts

Answer 7

Why don't you ask someone who is deaf? dumbass -.-

Answer 8

You and your friend must be retarded.