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How can I tell if a sound is too loud for my baby?Your baby’s hearing is more sensitive than yours. A good rule of thumb is, if you can talk easily over the sound, it shouldn't harm your baby's hearing (NHS 2011a).
How will my baby react to sound?Your baby's response to noise will probably depend on her temperament. Some babies are more sensitive to things around them, so they may react more to loud noises.
It also depends on what your baby heard while she was nestled in your uterus (womb). Some time between 23 weeks and 27 weeks, your baby started to hear. The constant beat of your heart was the clearest sound for her.
Your baby was also aware of noises from conversations and activities outside your uterus (Arabin 2002). For example, the sound of your partner talking to you or another sibling.
These sounds won't faze her when she encounters them in daily life. In fact, she'll probably be able to sleep right through them. On the other hand, new sounds may startle her, making her cry. Once she's about three months old, however, they may only make her blink and, a month later, may prompt her to turn her head towards its source.
How can I tell if my baby can hear clearly?All babies are screened for hearing impairment shortly after birth. If your baby has been born with hearing difficulty, it will be detected straight away. The test is simple and quick, and won’t hurt or be uncomfortable for your baby. For more information, see the NHS newborn hearing screening programme.
Some babies with perfect hearing don't seem to notice noises around them. If your baby sleeps through the phone ringing and the dog barking, don't worry. It's unlikely to mean that her hearing is affected. She probably just needs her sleep.
If you want to test your baby's hearing for yourself, the best time to do it is when she's wide awake and alert. Here are a few quick tests you can do:
- If your baby is under three months, clap your hands behind her head. If she startles, she's fine. If she doesn't, repeat the claps a few times (NHS 2010: 22).
- If your baby is a bit older, between four months and six months, she should have some head control. Call her name to see if she turns towards you or reacts to your voice. She may also turn her eyes or head to look for an interesting sound. As hearing and talking are linked, by four months your baby should start to make cooing sounds and other noises (NHS 2010: 23).
- Between six months and 10 months, your baby should respond to her name and familiar sounds, such as the ringing of the phone or the roar of the vacuum cleaner. She may also respond to quiet noises if she’s not occupied with other things (ICAN 2007, NHS 2010: 23).
- Between 10 months and 15 months, she should be able to point to a familiar object in a picture book when asked, and react when you say her name (ICAN 2007). She may even notice quieter sounds coming from another room, and may respond to an expression such as "bye bye", even when no gestures are used (NHS 2010).
If your baby doesn't respond to any of these tests, or if you’re not certain and want a second opinion, talk to your doctor or health visitor. It is likely to be only a temporary loss caused by a cold (NHS 2011b). Or she may simply be too engrossed in something else to take notice.
Is there anything I can do to help develop my baby's hearing?Your baby listens to noises to help her learn about the world around her and to communicate. You can stimulate your baby's hearing in the following ways:
- Talk and read to her. This will help her learn to tune into voices. If you're packing her nappy bag, give her a vivid description of what you're including. When you dress your baby, name the colour and type of garment you're slipping over her head. When you're talking to her, turn off the radio or TV, so that she can hear your voice without distractions.
- Tune into what your baby hears and comment on it. Whether it's the hum of an airplane engine or the purr of a cat, noticing what your baby is listening to will be rewarding for you both.
- Put your MP3 player on or turn on the radio. Babies love music, so point out the tinkling of the piano and the clashing of the cymbals.
Read more about how your baby's hearing develops.
What can affect my baby's hearing?The most common cause of hearing impairment in babies is an ear infection. The medical name for this is otitis media.
An ear infection causes the build-up of fluid in the middle ear (NHS 2011a; Tidy 2012). Mucus or fluid fills the space between your baby's ear drum and inner ear. This usually happens when she has a cold, and if it won't go away it causes glue ear.
Usually glue ear clears up by itself. However, your baby’s doctor can treat ear infections that won't go away, so any hearing difficulties should not last. Even if your baby has recurring bouts, they shouldn’t leave any lasting impairment (Tidy 2012).
Occasionally, babies' hearing is affected by other factors, including:
- Exposure to prolonged, high-decibel noise such as that found near airport runways or at rock concerts (NHS 2011b).
- Serious complications during birth that may have prevented enough oxygen reaching the baby (NHS 2011b).
- Low Apgar scores (how a baby’s health is measured at birth) (Tidy 2009).
- Exposure during pregnancy to infections such as rubella (NHS 2011b).
- A family history of hearing problems (NHS 2011b).
- Premature birth or low birth weight (Tidy 2009).
- A head injury (Tidy 2009).
If you have been told your baby has a lasting hearing impairment, your doctor or specialist will talk you through all the options. How your baby is treated will depend on the degree of her hearing loss.
And remember, you are not alone. Support is available from health professionals, education services and voluntary organisations. Talk to other parents, too, who can share their experiences and offer advice. The charity Contact a Family is a good starting point.
Last reviewed: May 2013
ReferencesArabin B. 2002. Music during pregnancy. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 20 (5): 425-30onlinelibrary.wiley.com [pdf file, accessed March 2013]
ICAN. 2007. Stages of speech and language development: a guide for early years practitioners. www.ican.org.uk [pdf file, accessed March 2013]
NHS. 2011a. Hearing impairment. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed March 2013]
NHS. 2011b. Hearing and vision tests for children. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed March 2013]
NHS. 2010. Screening tests for your baby. NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme. hearing.screening.nhs.uk [pdf file, accessed March 2013]
Sheridan M. 2008. From birth to five years: children's developmental progress. London: Routledge
Tidy C. 2012. Deafness in children. Patient UK. www.patient.co.uk [Accessed March 2013]