Signs of Hearing Loss

You know your child better than anyone: you are with your child the most and will likely be the first to notice his or her developmental milestones. There are several signs that may indicate your child has a hearing loss. If your baby or child does not appear to have reached one or more of these developmental milestones at the age indicated, talk to your family doctor about having his or her hearing tested.

Developmental Milestones Related to Hearing

Baby	startles or jumps when there are loud sounds stops sucking or crying when there is a new sound
3-months-old	coos at times and makes eye contact when talked to
9-months-old	turns toward you when called from behind makes babbling sounds, such as "baba"
1-year-old	babbles using a variety of consonant sounds (g,m,n,b,d)
18-months-old	uses single words to express his or her wants
2-years-old	repeats words or phrases and uses short phrases when talking

Warning Signs

Other possible warning signs of a hearing loss are when pre-school and school-age children:

		Cannot be understood by most people
		Often ask for things to be repeated
		Seem to watch your face closely when you talk
		Seem inattentive at home or school
		Do not communicate as well as other children the same age
		Often respond to a question with an unrelated answer
		Prefer the TV or radio louder than others in the family
		Have had many ear infections
		Respond inconsistently to sound
		Use gestures to communicate

Every child develops differently; therefore, these are guidelines only. Because early detection of hearing loss is important to your child’s long-term development, you should have your child’s hearing tested as soon as possible if you suspect a problem.