Views of children of deaf adults about their life experiences with their parents

The purpose of this study is to search the thoughts of Children of Deaf Adults about their family issues and the problems and difficulties they have with their Deaf parents. The data are collected with the semi- structured interview method. 11 Chidren of Deaf Adults have participated into this qualitative research. The collected data are analysed with the descriptive method. The findings are that Children of Deaf Adults interract with their parents in Sign Language but they experience some difficulties. The participators told they could not communicate with their Deaf parents deeply, but their converstaion is superficial. Chidren of Deaf Adults work as a bridge between their Deaf parents and the Hearing world. Mostly they mentioned that they felt they were in the middle of both cultures. Many Children of Deaf Adults told that they interpreted for their Deaf parents in different settings. These Hearing children told they had the protecting role in the family. They mentioned about the responsibility of protecting their parents from the biases and prejudices of Hearing people. Generally they told that they had the role change with their parents. They work for their parents as their "ears".