Signs of hearing loss in children

Birth - 3 months

• Startles at loud sounds

• Quiets or smiles when spoken to

• Seems to recognize a caregiver's voice and quiets if crying

• Changes sucking behavior in response to sound

• Makes cooing sounds

• Cries differently for different needs

• Smiles when sees parent

4 - 6 months

• Moves eyes in the direction of sounds

• Responds to changes in the tone of your voice

• Notices toys that make sounds

• Pays attention to music

• Babbling sounds are becoming more speech-like

• Vocalizes excitement and displeasure

• Makes gurgling sounds when left alone and when playing with you

7 months - 1 year

• Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

• Turns to look in the direction of sounds

• Listens when spoken to

• Recognizes words for common items like “cup”, “shoe”

• Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds such as “upup”

• Uses speech or non-crying sound to get and keep attention

• Imitates different speech sounds

• Has one or two words (bye-bye, dada, mama), although they may not be clear

1 - 2 years

• Points to a few body parts when asked

• Follows simple commands and understands simple questions

• Listens to simple stories, songs and rhymes

• Points to pictures in a book when named

• Begins to respond to requests (“Come here,” “Want more?”)

• Says more words every month

• Uses one- to two-word questions (“Where kitty?”)

• Puts two words together (“more cookie”)

• Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words