How do the deaf "format" thoughts in their heads?

Question

I am not ignorant of deaf people's abilities and their culture. I know several deaf people. I am not asking about deaf people's ability to use language or read--they can do this perfectly well. What I want to know is how they process thoughts. While a hearing person "speaks" in their head, obviously for the deaf this is not an option. Since sign is (most likely) their main form of communication, do they think in signs, or see thoughts as pictures? I am very interested in deaf culture and am trying to learn more. Any information or experiences with/about the deaf would be helpful!

Answer 1

I have a deaf son, and I never asked him that. To me they would think as we do, cause before a hearing person speaks he has to think it first, and on the same token..before a deaf person speaks (with his hands) he also has to think it first...same as us. However their perception of things is much more detailed when it comes to sight then the hearing person. They can see things that we don't see...and they see things in detail...for example looking into the woods they would be more likely be seeing the formation of the branches, and me looking at a bunch of normal pain trees. I know my son has describe things ...like the color of a hat and the way they wore it, whether the brim was turned up or not, if there was any writing on it or different colors...and he can describe the whole person...etc...where as I wouldn't come close to a description...I would probably know he wore a hat, but that would be about it.

Answer 2

i'm Deaf and that i born that way. additionally, I surely have my little sis who's deaf too , yet relax my family individuals and regulation family individuals is listening to. i understand to sign language than speaking, yet my lil sis talk extra useful than sign language do. we are completely opposite lol!