Intergenerational Trauma

For decades, researchers have studied child language brokering—the phenomenon where children translate adult conversations, documents, and decisions for their families. Most of this research focuses on immigrant households, where children translate for parents navigating systems in a new language. But there is a population hiding in plain sight. Codas—Children of Deaf Adults—have been doing this […]

By Joy Plote, LPC, CI/CT – Licensed Counselor, Interpreter, and Coda Love is supposed to be shared in conversation, laughter, and connection. But what happens when communication itself becomes the barrier? For many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, love has always lived just out of reach — around the dinner table. What Is Dinner Table Syndrome? […]

Codas may encounter variations of the archetypal dysfunctional family rules, shaped by their dual roles as both children and language brokers or mediators within their families. Coda Roles in Families Codas often take on exaggerated versions of these roles due to their responsibilities within their families. Here’s how these roles might manifest uniquely for Codas: […]

A Journey of Recognition and Healing Recently, I was asked a question that stayed with me: How do Codas (Children of Deaf Adults) know they need help? , I posed the same question to my brother. His response? He laughed and said: “Are they breathing? They’re Codas; of course, they need help.” While his words […]

Parentification occurs when a child assumes the role of a parent, taking on responsibilities that exceed their developmental stage and emotional readiness. In the Deaf community, the phenomenon of parentification can take on unique forms due to linguistic and cultural barriers, systemic discrimination, and intergenerational trauma. Codas (Children of Deaf Adults) are often thrust into […]

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a proven therapeutic approach designed to help individuals with emotional dysregulation, interpersonal challenges, and distress tolerance. While DBT has proven effective across diverse populations, its potential benefits for the Deaf and Coda (Children of Deaf Adults) communities are particularly profound. These groups often face unique challenges stemming from language deprivation, […]

Language deprivation occurs when a Deaf individual grows up without consistent access to a fully accessible language, such as sign language. This deprivation affects the development of neural networks essential for communication, emotional regulation, and cognitive growth. For Deaf parents, these challenges may unintentionally influence their children, creating intergenerational patterns of communication barriers, emotional strain, […]

When we think of trauma, we often consider the individuals directly impacted. Yet trauma, particularly within families, rarely stays contained to one person or generation. For Deaf individuals and their families, trauma is an intricate web of lived experiences, shared emotions, and inherited coping strategies that can deeply affect both Deaf and hearing children alike. […]