Many people with profound hearing loss who communicate in sign language prefer to be identified clearly by terms accepted by the hearing loss community. For this group, the term "deaf" is more than a descriptive word. It designates a cultural group with its own unique norms and language.

For example, deaf people try to get another person's attention by waving their hands, a light touch, turning a light off and on, or stamping their feet. Instead of a doorbell or a phone ringing, a light from a lamp flashes. Some deaf people attended schools for the deaf, and many belong to deaf clubs, and social or sports organizations. Deaf people think of themselves of part of a unique linguistic group rather than as a person with hearing loss. They feel a strong bond with other culturally deaf people. Some deaf people even capitalize "Deaf."