I've been deaf since I was 2 years old. I'm now 34. I did not have many friends that were deaf. I did have some, but my family were all hearing. They knew sign language, but I often had a long period of silence. NO sounds, no one talked to me.
I would rather read newspaper than to hold conversations with other people. Even now, though I have a girlfriend who loves me for who I am, I still prefer to sit back and read newspaper rather than to hold conversations. Not that I hate conversations, but I've often been loner.
So, I understand where you're coming from having a long span of time without saying anything.
