* Deaf people think in the same way hearing people do. The process of thinking isn't tied to language.
* Deaf people can think in any language they know. They may think in sign language, spoken language, or a combination of both.
* Thinking in sign language is visually-based, not auditory. It involves mental imagery, spatial reasoning, and understanding of the nuances of signed communication.
Here's why this is a common misconception:
* Hearing-centric bias: We tend to assume that thinking is primarily based on spoken language, which isn't true.
* Language development: Deaf individuals may learn sign language at a very young age, which becomes their primary language and therefore influences their internal thought processes.
In short: Deaf people think in the same way as everyone else, but they might use visual language (sign language) as their primary tool for internal processing and expression.