Growing Up with Cochlear Implants

Harry Knoors is professor emeritus in deaf education at the Behavioral Science Institute of the Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. For over 25 years he also was on the board of directors of Royal Kentalis, Sint-Michielsgestel. His research focusses on the effects of early childhood deafness and early language impairments on the development of language, literacy and cognition. Amongst others, Knoors was involved in studies into the effects of pediatric cochlear implantation and of early sign language use. In his research, he also addresses issues closely related to the quality of special, i.e. deaf, education.

Evelien Dirks is professor in the Early Development and Intervention of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children at Tranzo, Tilburg University, the Netherlands. She is also program director DHH at the Dutch Foundation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child in Amsterdam (NSDSK). Her research focusses on the language, social-emotional and cognitive development of deaf and hard of hearing children and the effects of early intervention. The parent-child interaction in relation to child development is often a key element in her research.