Yes—in some places and periods, deaf people were discouraged from marrying each other, and in a few communities it was formally prohibited or strongly resisted. But this was not a universal rule; in many other places deaf people could and did marry one another.

What the evidence shows

Historical accounts suggest a mixed picture rather than one global ban. In Western Europe, deaf people were being allowed to use sign language in marriage from at least the 12th century, which means marriage itself was not generally forbidden. At the same time, prejudice and legal barriers often made marriage difficult in practice.

Where it happened

One well-known case is Adamorobe in Ghana , a “deaf village” where research has described a marriage prohibition affecting deaf residents. That is an example of a local community rule, not a worldwide law. Outside such cases, many deaf couples married legally and socially, including historically documented deaf marriages in Europe.

Why the myth exists

A lot of confusion comes from mixing up marriage bans , family pressure , and social stigma. Sometimes deaf people were told not to marry because of eugenic ideas, fears about heredity, or assumptions that they could not form a “proper” marriage. Those attitudes were harmful, but they were not the same as a universal legal prohibition.

In plain terms

  • Yes, in some places: local rules or prejudice could prevent deaf people from marrying each other.
  • No, not everywhere: many deaf people were allowed to marry, including each other.
  • Most of the restriction was social or discriminatory, not a single global law.

Bottom line

So the best answer is: sometimes, yes—but only in certain places or under certain discriminatory systems, not as a universal rule.