This study investigated the potential effects of cochlear implantation and age at implantation on maternal interactional sensitivity. Three groups of dyads were studied at two points over 1 year. The hearing aid (HA) group wore hearing aids throughout the study, the early cochlear implanted (ECI) group were implanted prior to 22 months of age, and the later cochlear-implanted (LCI) group were implanted after 25 months of age. Using the Maternal Sensitivity Rating Scale, results showed that for all three groups overall maternal sensitivity and specific dimensions of sensitivity increased over time. There was no significant difference between the HA group and the combined cochlear implant group, however, the mothers of the children in the ECI group showed significant increases in maternal sensitivity when compared with the LCI group. The Maternal Sensitivity Rating Scale appears to be discriminatory over time, and between groups of items relating to the quality of interaction, contingency to the child, and maternal interactional strategies. The scale may prove to be a useful instrument for practitioners. (Contains 5 tables.)