A qualitative literature review of how hearing codas navigate deafness stigma

This study provides a narrative literature review of how hearing children of deaf adults (Codas) experience and navigate the stigma associated with their parents' deafness. While research on deaf individuals is well-established, the specific experiences of their hearing offspring have historically been overlooked. By synthesizing 22 qualitative articles and 2 books, the authors examine how Codas manage courtesy stigma—a form of prejudice by association—and how they develop resilience while balancing their dual identities within both deaf and hearing cultural spheres.

The authors conducted a comprehensive search of major databases, screening 61 peer-reviewed articles to identify 24 high-quality sources that explicitly discuss the lives of Codas. Using a thematic analysis framework, they categorized findings into four primary dimensions: parentification, stigma, shaming, and stereotyping.

• Parentification: Many Codas assume adult roles, such as language brokering or shielding parents from discrimination, which can be both a source of pride and a psychological burden.
• Indirect Stigma: Codas often face social exclusion or mockery when signing in public, leading to complex impression management strategies like selective concealment to avoid peer judgment.
• Agency and Resilience: Despite external pressures, many Codas reframe their bimodal and bicultural background as a personal asset, using their unique position to subvert normative expectations and foster a strong sense of identity.

Codas occupy a unique space as "heritage signers" who move between deaf and hearing worlds. By documenting the pervasive yet often invisible nature of courtesy stigma, this research challenges the tendency of social services to overlook the distinct needs of this group. The findings argue that policymakers and family professionals must move away from medicalized deficit models and toward an inclusive approach that validates the agency of Codas. Recognizing their lived experience is essential for creating more effective support structures and fostering environments where children of deaf parents can thrive without being pathologized.