The long-term effects of hearing loss in early life were analyzed by t
ests of central auditory function. A majority of individuals failed th
e Compressed Speech identification with statistically significant resu
lts. There was an impact on a minority of individuals evaluated by Dic
hotic Sentences; little impairment was noted through Speech Reception
in Noise. Delayed maturation of the central auditory complex may impro
ve these findings, although during the period of investigation a negat
ive impact was measured. Other issues of diagnosis, remediation, and t
he consequences of short- and long-term deafness are discussed.