CODA Updates
Invited Lecture as part of QUB's Masters in Sign Language Interpreting Programme for Deaf and Hearing Students
“CODA: Hearing Children of Deaf Adults Experiencing Resilience in Everyday Life: An Ethnographic Study.” Queen’s University Belfast, 24 February 2026.
An invited lecture delivered as part of the Master’s in Sign Language Interpreting programme for deaf and hearing students.
Research context
Approximately 90% of children born to deaf parents are hearing. These individuals are classified as "heritage signers" (Napier 2021) who navigate unique bilingual and bicultural experiences.
The research gap
While existing literature covers general resilience across various disciplines (such as psychology, sociology, and social work) and explores adversity in marginalized groups, there is a distinct lack of framework applying resilience theory specifically within CODA literature.
Study objectives
This ethnographic study aims to identify the specific childhood and adult hardships faced by CODAs, understand how these challenges affect them, and uncover the resources they use to develop self-empowerment and resilience.
The literature highlights that CODAs routinely face unique forms of structural and familial adversity, including:
- Stigma: Social judgment related to deafness and sign language.
- Parentification: Taking on premature adult responsibilities to care for parents or siblings.
- Social Exclusion: Isolation from both the hearing and Deaf communities.
- Internalized Shame: Psychological distress tied to communication barriers and identity friction.
Qualitative Findings: Case Studies
The core of the project relies on qualitative individual interviews, showcasing two contrasting case studies:
Amy’s Story (Age 60–70)
Amy was intentionally separated from the deaf community and her deaf sister by her mother, who wanted her to be “hearing.” She was forced to use her voice, excluded from deaf clubs, and denied the chance to learn sign language, leading to severe feelings of disconnection. Her resilience emerged later in life when she actively chose to learn sign language, allowing her to process her personal history, experience a profound sense of belonging, and reclaim her deaf identity.
Katie’s Story (Age 35–45)
As the oldest child of a mother experiencing mental health struggles, Katie experienced severe parentification. At just 12 years old, she had to manage her mother's home birth, wash the newborn, and coordinate with emergency services amidst deep trauma. She frequently missed school to manage household operations and feed her siblings. Her journey toward resilience involved processing this "stolen childhood" (her own words) by writing and structurally organizing her family stories, transforming her trauma into narrative agency.
Conclusion: Mechanisms of CODA Resilience
The study concludes that CODAs successfully navigate and alter their situations to become self-empowered through five key pillars of resilience:
- Community connection: Building bridges into supportive networks.
- Positive self-identification: Embracing and reclaiming their heritage/Deaf identity.
- Family support: Leveraging healthy dynamic shifts within the family unit.
- Counselling: Utilizing professional support groups, counselling, and therapy.
- Education: Gaining empowerment through formal learning and self-awareness.