A deaf person may not be able to hear someone talking quietly in the traditional sense, as hearing relies on the auditory system to detect sound waves. However, a deaf person can still perceive and interpret communication through other sensory channels.
One of the ways a deaf person can "feel" someone talking quietly is through the sense of touch and vibrations. When someone speaks, their vocal cords produce vibrations that travel through the air as sound waves. Deaf individuals can often sense these vibrations through their body, especially in areas that are more sensitive to tactile sensations, such as the chest, throat, or jaw.
Additionally, if the person speaking is in physical contact with the deaf individual, such as holding hands or placing a hand on the speaker's throat, they may better sense the vibrations produced during speech.
Furthermore, lip-reading or speechreading is another skill that many deaf individuals develop to understand spoken language. By closely watching the movements of a speaker's lips, tongue, and facial expressions, a deaf person can gather visual cues that aid in understanding the spoken message, even if the speaker is talking quietly or not making sound at all.
It's important to recognize that communication for deaf individuals often involves a combination of visual cues, body language, lip-reading, sign language (if they use it), and any residual hearing they may have. The ability to understand quiet speech can vary depending on the individual's hearing loss, their proficiency in lip-reading, and their familiarity with the speaker's mannerisms.