Infants born deaf or hard of hearing show adverse changes in how their brains organize and specialize, but exposure to sound and language may help them develop more normally, according to new research.

The study led by two neuroscientists found that infants with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) lacked the usual pattern of organization on the brain’s left side, which supports language and higher cognitive skills.

The findings also suggest that early auditory stimulation through hearing aids or cochlear implants, along with exposure to language, whether spoken or signed, could help preserve normal brain development.