Almost 90% of the children born to life-long profoundly deaf parents a
re hearing. Within this extraordinary family setting, hearing children
of deaf parents are exposed to and interact with two differing cultur
al, social and linguistic systems: that of their deaf parents and the
Deaf community, and that of hearing peers and adults. The present pape
r focuses on cultural identity and affiliation of hearing children of
deaf parents-a population whose lives incorporate the paradox of being
culturally 'Deaf' and yet functionally hearing. Data reported here ar
e primarily based on interviews acid life histories with 150 adult hea
ring children of deaf parents throughout the United States. The inform
ants in this study provide an opportunity to explore the parameters an
d norms of Deaf culture as it contrasts and conflicts with those of He
aring culture.