Can deaf people hear themselves think?

Question

We all know that we can hear our thoughts and we know what our voice sounds like. So can a deaf person hear their thoughts and know what their voice sounds like?

i'm not making fun of deaf people ifs just a question

Answer 1

I can't help but laugh at some of these ignorant answers. I am deaf, and I can answer your question properly.

Ok let me clear up one myth about deafness. There is this myth that deaf people cannot hear. But any degree of deafness still has room for hearing that can be enhanced with digital hearing aids. We live in a time and age where they are very powerful enough to raise a person's deafness upto even almost hard-of-hearing.

These hearing aids cost as much as $2,000 just for one, and of course they better work if we're gonna spend that much money!

I am profoundly deaf which is just one level away from complete deafness. That means I am 85% deaf in one ear and 80% deaf in the other. I hear nothing without my hearing aids. But if I wear my hearing aids, I can hear A LOT. I can hear my own voice. I can hear birds, my cats meowing, cars going by, the difference between a small dog and large dog barking, accents, and much more.

As for hearing our thoughts, English is my first and main language. I've been speaking since I was 18 months old, so how is my hearing my own thoughts any different than you do? It may not sound perfect but the thing is the brain does not need perfect imaginary vocal thoughts because it already understands the thoughts themselves and the ears are not involved. I have dreams where I am having regular conversations just like you do. I understand what is being spoken to me, and I'm understood. The key here is understanding. There is no need for perfect speech in our minds and dreams.

As for those deaf that primarily communicate via ASL as their main language and English as a second language via reading and writing, I'm sure it is more visual-oriented in their minds. Probably a combination of acting out the signs and seeing the words in their visual form. I sometimes think in words visually as the brain is not limited to auditorial communication, there is also visual communication. Many times both are used.

I lip-read half while my ears listen to half of the sounds then my brain puts them together filling in the gaps. Like for example if you were to speak "like" to me. I would hear "ike" and my eyes would see the letter "l" being used at the beginning of the word spoken, then my brain would put it together and get the word "like". Does that make sense?

Answer 2

Are you actually asking that question?
You don't "actually" hear yourself think. You just think. If you're underwater and want to tell yourself to do some laundry tonight, could you hear yourself say that in your head? *duh*. Can't hear underwater, so I guess it's the same premise.

I'm sure , if I were deaf.... and I was reading a book, I'd be reading inside my head... may not have a voice, but it's still thinking, or reading.. Same with if I'm deaf and doing a math problem.. on a test at school.. You don't think they are sitting there doing their test, figuring up what (2x3)+9-0=? In their head? Just because they're deaf doesn't mean they can't hear themselves think. Just gotta think outside the box.

Answer 3

Short Answer:
No..they can't "hear" themselves think if they've never heard. For people that become deaf when they're older, yes. BUT, as many American deaf people have told me, they think in ASL (American Sign Language) and/or yes, other visual ways. Hearing people's auditory part of the brain (the temporal lobe) is more developed, while deaf people's visual part of the brain (the occipital lobe) is more developed.

Answer 4

Well I just asked a deaf person this question but she didnt hear me and wasnt able to answer obviously.

Answer 5

No, not if they are deaf from birth.

Deaf people think in Sign.

Answer 6

OF COURSE its not like they just cant think, ponder this doesnt your voice sound weird when u hear it on a answering machine

Answer 7

Wow, this is gonna keep me up all night.

I imagine they may think like we do, we just associate words to ours, like a picture book (I think), they just leave the "text" out

Im just speculating. I really dont know

Answer 8

Wow interesting question

Answer 9

do U think what U type B 4 U type it ??? Making fun of handicapped people will not make U popular,unless you're still in 1st grade!!!

Answer 10

i dont think so.............if they havnt heard a thing they dont even know how they sound so its sad.....but i think they think in form of words or something