Children of deaf parents experience stigma, says UCC study

New research from University College Cork has found that hearing children of deaf adults can experience stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion.

The recently-published research examined the experiences of hearing children of deaf adults (CODAs), and highlighted the need for their experiences to be better recognised in family services, social policy, and research.

The narrative review, by Noel O’Connor and Jemina Napier, examined CODAs’ experiences of “courtesy stigma”, also known as indirect stigma or stigma-by-association. The findings found CODAs can encounter stereotyping and negative assumptions about their parents in educational, public, and professional settings.

Feelings of shame

For some, exposure to these attitudes can contribute to feelings of shame, identity tension, and social isolation, but strong family relationships, positive parental attitudes towards sign language, and connections with other CODAs were identified as important factors supporting resilience.

Mr O’Connell said the review shows “growing up as a hearing child of deaf parents cannot be understood simply through a deaf-hearing binary”, adding: “CODAs can experience stigma because of how wider society responds to their parents, and they can take on an active role in navigating interactions between deaf and hearing worlds

“Services can overlook CODAs because they are hearing, while attention understandably focuses on deaf parents or deaf children.

“Listening to CODAs themselves is essential to developing policies and services that address stigma and discrimination while recognising the strengths and agency of deaf-parented families.”