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Do you know how CODA can serve as a bridge between home and school?
When we talk about children of hearing-impaired people, the term CODA is no longer unfamiliar. CODA, or Child of Deaf of Deaf Adults, refers to children raised by one or more hearing-impaired parents who are often able to bridge the gap between the hearing and non-hearing worlds. According to statistics, about 90% of children born to hearing-impaired parents are hearing, making the CODA community spread all over the world, showing a unique life experience.
“CODAs often wander between the auditory and the non-auditory, and their existence allows the two worlds to communicate with each other.”
The term CODA was founded in 1983 by Millie Brother, who also founded the CODA organization, a group dedicated to serving children of hearing-impaired adults. The CODA organization was established not only to provide support, but also to provide a space for this special group to share their experiences and feelings, allowing them to identify with both hearing and hearing culture.
CODA’s identity
Many CODA understand that they do not simply belong to the "hearing world" or the "deaf world". They prefer to self-identify as CODA, and this unique identity allows them to find a balance between the two cultures. This unique identity also makes it difficult for them to fully integrate into social situations. CODA's life is often full of challenges.
"CODAs may use sign language to communicate with their parents at home, but rely on oral communication outside the home."
Some CODA received hearing implants, which diversified their identities in both cultures. Not only can they use sign language at home, but they can also interact in spoken language with hearing friends. Although these CODAs have more communication methods than others, their experiences are not always smooth, especially when faced with certain difficulties.
Challenges faced
For those CODAs who grow up in homes without other spoken language environments, there may be a delay in the development of spoken language. If there is a lack of oral communication at home, their language learning and development may be relatively hindered. In this case, CODA is like a bilingual bridge between the family and the outside world, undertaking the mission of interpretation and translation. However, this may be too heavy for children.
"Hearing-impaired parents may become dependent on their hearing children, which inadvertently increases the child's psychological burden."
In this context, CODAs may face different adaptation challenges as they age. They sometimes need to deliver complex or emotionally inappropriate news to hearing-impaired parents, such as explaining a medical diagnosis, and these frightening situations can be overwhelmingly stressful for young children. Moreover, CODA often suffers from prejudice and discrimination against the hearing-impaired community in daily life.
Existence of supporting organizations
In order to raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by CODA, Millie Brother established the "CODA" organization in 1983 and held its first annual meeting in Fremont, California in 1986. Since then, the organization's annual meeting has developed into an international gathering and has become an important stage for CODAs to share their experiences.
"The mission of the CODA organization is to provide support, education and awareness-raising to help CODA find a balance between two cultures."
In addition to the annual meeting, CODA also provides a variety of resources to help these children and their families. Including providing bilingual parent support groups so that hearing-impaired parents can also get necessary help in raising hearing children. In addition, there are many summer camps for young CODAs. These camps not only promote the development of social skills, but also allow them to find partners in the same experience.
With the gradual diversification of society, the awareness and understanding of CODA culture are also increasing. The bridge these children build between two cultures not only enriches their family life, but also gives those who come into contact with them a deeper understanding of hearing-impaired culture. In the future, as society continues to develop, will we be able to understand this cross-cultural communication more deeply?
