TRUE

Research indicates that individuals who are born deaf or experience profound hearing loss primarily think in visual representations, sign language, or written words rather than auditory language 2 3. Because they lack access to sound, their thoughts are often structured around their preferred communication style 2. High-credibility sources state that these thoughts can manifest as pictures, scenes, or visual representations of concepts 7, as well as the grammar and imagery of their native sign language 8. Neurological evidence supports this, showing that skilled deaf readers use brain regions associated with visual decoding rather than the phonetic processing areas used by hearing individuals 4. While thought processes vary by individual, those born deaf are most likely to have a primary thought process that is purely visual or sign-based 5 10.