Language development in a hearing and a deaf twin with simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants

This case study is an examination of the language development of a single pair of fraternal twins--one with a profound, sensorineural hearing loss who received simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants at 1 year of age and the other with normal hearing. The purpose of the study was to compare the twins' language development over time from 6 months to almost 3 years of age. Findings suggest that early simultaneous bilateral implantation supports the development of age-appropriate language, thus increasing the potential for overall progress commensurate with hearing age peers.