Is growing up CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) anything like the Oscar winning movie?

Dipikha, 10, and her sister Shona, 11, are hearing but their parents, Gohpi and Shalini, are deaf. The family is far from unusual - 9 in 10 children born to deaf parents are hearing.

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The girls grew up learning sign language (which they refer to as their “bonus language”) and help their parents with everyday tasks like fielding food orders and answering phone calls. But when it comes to longer, deeper conversations, Gophi and Shalini don’t like to rely on the girls to be their interpreters.

“I can write, I can text. I cannot possibly rely on my daughters all the time to interpret and talk. They should have their own space,” Gohpi says.

As for teaching the children to speak from young, Shalini roped in her parents to help with that. The extended family’s love of performing also rubbed off on the girls who often sing and dance during school events.

“On concert days, Mama and Papa will always come. Now that I really recall, it's very heart touching that they always make an effort to always go for them,” says Shona.

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