How many deaf people in the UK use BSL as their preferred means of communication?

It's impossible to give an exact number of deaf people in the UK who use BSL as their preferred means of communication.

Here's why:

* No comprehensive census: There is no official census in the UK that specifically asks about language preference for deaf people.

* Varying definitions of "deaf" and "BSL user": There are different definitions of "deaf" and "BSL user." Some people who are deaf may not use BSL, while others who are hard of hearing may use BSL as their primary communication method.

* Diversity of communication: Deaf individuals may use a variety of communication methods, including BSL, spoken English, lipreading, writing, and assistive technology.

However, we can look at some estimations:

* The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) estimates that around 150,000 people in the UK are BSL users.

* The Deaf Health Charity estimates that approximately 11 million people in the UK experience some form of hearing loss.

It's important to note that these are just estimations, and the actual number of BSL users in the UK is likely to be higher.

It's also crucial to recognize the importance of promoting BSL as a language and ensuring its accessibility for all deaf individuals.