Child of deaf adult

The term was coined by Millie Brother who also founded the organization CODA,[2] which serves as a resource and a center of community for children of deaf adults as an oral and a sign language, and bicultural, identifying with both deaf and hearing cultures.

Spoken language is typically acquired without instruction if exposed to the hearing community at a reasonably young age, whether through other family members or at school.

Just as many first-generation immigrant parents frequently struggle to communicate in the majority (spoken) language, and come to rely on the greater fluency of their bilingual children, so deaf parents may come to rely on hearing children who are effectively fluent bilinguals.

For example, a school-aged child may be called on to explain a diagnosis of a serious medical condition to their deaf parent.

Bystanders may make negative comments about the deaf community in that family's presence, not realizing the child can hear.

CODA aims to raise awareness about the unique experiences and issues of growing up between these two cultures.

Several camps have been established for KODAs: There is also CODA UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy and France.