Baby Not Responding to Music or Sounds
The short answer
Babies should respond to sounds from birth - startling to loud noises, calming to soothing voices, and turning toward sounds by 4-6 months. If your baby does not respond to music, voices, or loud sounds, the most important step is a hearing evaluation. About 1-3 per 1,000 babies are born with hearing loss, and early identification (by 3 months) and intervention (by 6 months) leads to significantly better language outcomes. Even if your baby passed the newborn hearing screening, hearing loss can develop later.
By Age
What to expect by age
Newborns should startle or blink in response to loud sounds, quiet when they hear a familiar voice, and seem to listen when spoken to. They may not visibly respond to quieter sounds or music yet. If your newborn does not startle to any loud sounds, does not seem calmed by your voice, or failed the newborn hearing screening, follow up with a diagnostic audiological evaluation (ABR test). Even mild hearing loss can affect language development if not addressed early.
By 4-6 months, your baby should be turning their head toward sounds, responding to your voice (especially their name), enjoying music with visible reactions (smiling, kicking legs, moving arms), and babbling with vowel sounds. If your baby does not turn toward sounds, does not seem to notice when you enter the room speaking, and is not babbling, request a hearing evaluation. Otitis media with effusion (fluid from ear infections) can cause temporary hearing reduction that may go unnoticed.
Babies should respond to their name by 9 months, babble with consonant sounds (ba-ba, da-da), respond differently to happy versus angry tones of voice, and show interest in music (bouncing, swaying, vocalizing along). If your baby seems to respond to some sounds but not others, they may have hearing loss in specific frequencies. If your baby was babbling and stopped, or never started consonant babbling by 10 months, a hearing test is essential. Do not wait for the next well-visit if you are concerned about hearing.
Your toddler should respond to their name, follow simple directions, dance or move to music, and be developing words. If your toddler does not respond to music, seems to hear sometimes but not others, needs the TV very loud, or is not developing words, hearing should be evaluated even if previous tests were normal. Progressive or fluctuating hearing loss can occur. Some children with autism respond differently to sounds - they may be hypersensitive to some sounds and seem to ignore others, despite having normal hearing.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby responds to some sounds but is focused and ignoring others - selective attention is normal
- Your baby prefers certain types of music and responds more to those
- Your baby startles to loud sounds but does not visibly react to softer background music
- Your toddler responds to their name but not consistently when deeply focused on play
- Your baby does not consistently turn toward sounds by 6 months
- Your baby is not babbling with consonant sounds by 10 months
- Your toddler responds to their name only sometimes or needs to be called multiple times
- Your child passed the newborn hearing screening but you have concerns about their hearing now
- Your newborn failed the hearing screening and has not had follow-up testing
- Your baby seems to hear no sounds at all - does not startle, turn, or respond to voices
- Your child was hearing and responding normally and has suddenly stopped responding to sounds
- Your child had meningitis, a high fever, or a head injury and now seems to hear less well
Sources
Related Resources
Related Speech Concerns
Toddler Not Talking at Age 2 - Nonverbal
A child with no words at age 2 should be evaluated by their pediatrician and referred for a hearing test and speech-language evaluation. While some late talkers do catch up on their own, a child with no words at 24 months needs assessment to determine the cause - which could range from a simple language delay to hearing loss, autism, or another developmental condition. Early intervention is remarkably effective, and the sooner it begins, the better the outcomes. You do not need a diagnosis to start receiving speech therapy services through Early Intervention.
Toddler Speech Regression After Ear Infection
Ear infections can temporarily affect hearing by causing fluid buildup behind the eardrum, which muffles sound like hearing through water. If your toddler's speech regressed during or after an ear infection, it is likely because they cannot hear clearly enough to practice and produce speech sounds. For most children, speech returns to normal once the infection clears and hearing is restored. However, chronic ear infections with persistent fluid (lasting 3+ months) can cause meaningful delays in speech and language development, especially during the critical period of language learning.
Early Signs of Autism in Babies and Toddlers
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can sometimes be identified as early as 12-18 months, though most children are not diagnosed until age 2-3. Early signs include limited eye contact, not responding to their name, lack of pointing or showing, limited social smiling, and absence of pretend play. Having one or two of these signs does not mean your child has autism - many typically developing children share individual traits. However, a pattern of multiple social communication differences warrants evaluation. Early intervention, regardless of eventual diagnosis, consistently leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Is Losing Words or Skills
If your child was consistently using words and has truly stopped, this is something to act on promptly. Regression - the genuine loss of skills a child previously had - is different from a normal plateau or a toddler being too busy to talk, and it always warrants a conversation with your pediatrician sooner rather than later.
Baby Not Babbling
Babbling with consonant sounds like "ba," "da," and "ma" typically begins between 6 and 9 months and is an important building block for speech. Babies develop at different rates, but if your baby is not making any consonant sounds by 9 months, a hearing check is a good first step.
Baby Not Laughing at Peek-a-Boo
Most babies start showing delight during peek-a-boo between 6 and 9 months, when they develop "object permanence" - the understanding that things still exist when hidden. If your baby isn't laughing at peek-a-boo yet, consider their age and overall social engagement. Some babies prefer other games, and some show enjoyment through smiles or excited movements rather than laughter. What matters most is whether your baby is socially engaged with you overall.