Five hearing impaired children (2 to 4 years old) were followed longitudinally while using a single channel, vibrotactile aid as a supplement to hearing aids. Standardized language tests (including the Scales of Early Communication Skills for Hearing Impaired Children, the Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language, and the Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language-Revised) measured the rate of progress in receptive and expressive language. Subjects were compared with each other and with same-aged hearing and hearing impaired peers. Pre- and post-test scores revealed an increased rate of progress in lipreading and other aspects of oral language after tactile stimulation was introduced. Data also suggested that tactile stimulation helps develop auditory awareness faster, thereby allowing for improved response to sound which, in turn, can lead to more accurate hearing tests at earlier ages. (Author/CL)