Deaf twin babies hear parents' voices for first time in California

SEAL BEACH, Calif. -- A set of identical twins from Santa Ana born with serious hearing loss were given the chance to listen to their parents' voices for the first time on Wednesday.

Eyewitness News captured the moments as audiologists fitted 6-month-old Kayla and Kiara Hernandez with brand new hearing aids.

"They will be able to hear all those sounds... so many blessings and beautiful things this world has to offer to them," mother Gemila Hernandez said.

The life-changing day came after a challenging journey.

"It was so hard for us, because I questioned, 'Have they ever heard me say that I love them?" the mother worried.

When doctors discovered both girls suffered from moderate hearing loss during a routine hearing exam, several experts suggested their parents buy them hearing aids sooner rather than later. But Gemila and Raul Hernandez couldn't afford the $12,000 price tag.

Their insurance, like many private providers, wouldn't cover the hearing aids as they're considered elective.

Enter Newport Beach-based HearAid Foundation (http://hearaidfoundation.org/). The non-profit helps families like the Hernandez's afford hearing aids.

The Hernandez family hopes their story will encourage others to learn about the work of this non-profit and others like it.

"Support them and learn about them. See how they're impacting the community because if I could only tell you how they've helped us," Gemila Hernandez said.