> I think there's an immense qualitative and quantitative difference between someone's brain working differently and the straightforward presence or lack of a specific physical capability.

In this case, the lack of a specific physical ability results in that person's brain working differently.

Not really. The brain compensates in communication skills since it has no auditory processing to deal with.

But it’s otherwise normal. They don’t magically become extremely technical or have other specific positive traits that come from being deaf.