The case for HODAs (Working Thoughts)

What is CODA?

CODA stands for “Child of Deaf Adult,” a term originally coined to describe hearing individuals raised by one or more Deaf parents, growing up navigating both Deaf and hearing worlds. Over time, CODA has become a structured organization, hosting conferences and fostering a unique community for individuals who share this experience. CODA events offer a space for this community to connect over shared identities and experiences. However, these gatherings can be contentious, as no strict language rules are enforced, potentially causing friction. For example, the access to Deaf-centered events, such as those offering interpreters, highlights the tension between Deaf and hearing spaces.

[Note: I open with the use of deaf with an asterisk to include Deaf, deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, hard of hearing, and late-deafened individuals and that includes the way other identities influence and interact with the experience of being deaf due to the way our minds often go to the universal experience of being deaf when we read the term Deaf.]

Who Does CODA Apply To?

Historically, CODA has applied to hearing individuals with Deaf parents. However, Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals with Deaf parents also resonate with the CODA identity, arguing that they share many of the same experiences as hearing CODAs. Despite this, some hearing CODAs insist that CODA should remain exclusive to those who are hearing. This contention points to deeper issues around identity, power dynamics, and the ability to define one’s own community.

Why DoD vs. CODA?

Hearing CODAs often argue that Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals with Deaf parents should adopt the term “Deaf of Deaf” (DoD) to highlight their Deaf identity. The argument stems from hearing CODAs’ perception that they alone occupy a “unique space” as hearing individuals immersed in a Deaf household, moving between Deaf and hearing worlds.

Many hearing CODAs resist being identified as “hearing,” citing feelings of not belonging to the hearing world or a desire to “be Deaf like their family.” They may assert that they do not exhibit audist behavior, instead embracing Deaf culture. However, some Deaf people critique this as exclusionary, particularly when hearing CODAs disassociate from problematic behaviors within the community, such as dismissing concerns raised by Deaf individuals. Some Deaf community members see this disassociation as a subtle form of supremacy, a way for hearing CODAs to position themselves as “allies” while perpetuating harmful dynamics.

Recognizing HODA (Hearing of Deaf Adult)

The hearing CODA community has often overlooked the ways in which their privileged proximity to Deaf communities can lead to harm, even if unintentionally. Hearing CODAs have filled roles within Deaf spaces — interpreters, ASL teachers, advocates — where they can be both the community’s strongest allies and, at times, sources of harm, often in subtle ways. To address this, the concept of HODA (Hearing of Deaf Adult) is proposed as a clearer identifier, allowing for the recognition of power dynamics and privileges in hearing CODA experiences that Deaf of Deaf (DoD) or Deaf CODAs do not share. It creates space to name and examine the privileges inherent to the HODA experience while honoring the distinct cultural position that is uniquely theirs to hold.

The Case for Reclaiming “CODA” as a Universal Term

Reclaiming “CODA” to include Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing individuals raised by Deaf parents could foster a more inclusive understanding of shared experiences across these groups. This redefined CODA would allow for sub-identifiers such as HODA for hearing individuals, DoD for Deaf individuals, and other variations (like SODA, KODA, GODA) to signify unique relationship dynamics with Deaf family members. This approach would honor the contributions of all individuals who grew up in Deaf-centered households without erasing the nuances of their lived experiences.

Power and Dynamics: Living Adjacent to a Marginalized Group

Living adjacent to a marginalized group, like Deaf communities, can influence power dynamics in complex ways. Proximity to Deafness may enable hearing CODAs to navigate Deaf spaces with a degree of familiarity, yet they retain the privilege of accessing hearing spaces without barriers. In contrast, Deaf CODAs do not have this advantage and often encounter systemic obstacles that hearing CODAs may overlook or misunderstand. The nuanced dynamics of being a hearing ally within a marginalized community reflect ongoing tensions around access, privilege, and identity that require open, critical discussions within the CODA, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing communities.

Reflection Journey

I’ve started considering the Case for HODAs back in 2020 when twitter blew up with a lot of HODA influencers or social media individuals were being called out for their hearingness behavior. To which, individuals who were being called out and other HODAs who jumped in the conversations, would deny their hearingness by using the terminology, ‘CODA.’ “I’m not hearing, I’m a CODA!” That sparked a lot of reflection within me about the use of CODA and how it denies the opportunity to truly self-examine and be aware of the very precious experience HODA truly have as a hearing-born individual experiencing proximity to deafness unlike the general hearing population. Yes, ASL may have been a language they’ve used all the while they also got to benefit from hearing everything from the moment they were born, just like any other hearing kid, where they have access to incidental learning. Since then, I’ve shifted to the use of HODA instead of CODA for those who are hearing of deaf. I’m happy to now have something put down in writing to share this process of reflection with others. I’m curious to see what comes of it. Thanks for reading.