Signs of Hearing Loss in Babies
The short answer
Most babies are screened for hearing loss at birth, but some hearing problems develop later or are missed. Early signs include not startling to loud sounds, not turning toward voices by 6 months, or not babbling by 9 months. Catching hearing loss early is critical for language development.
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By Age
What to expect by age
Birth-3 months
Newborns should startle or blink to sudden loud sounds and calm to familiar voices. They may turn their eyes or head slightly toward sounds. Most hospitals screen hearing at birth, but this test can miss mild losses or problems that develop later. If your baby seems completely unbothered by loud noises or doesn't react to your voice at all, mention it at the first checkup.
4-6 months
By 6 months, babies should reliably turn their head toward sounds and voices. They should respond to their name, react to changes in your tone of voice, and show interest in toys that make noise. If your baby seems "in their own world" and doesn't respond when you call from behind, it's worth a hearing check - even if they passed the newborn screen.
7-12 months
Babbling should be in full swing by 9 months, with consonant-vowel sounds like "bababa" or "dadada." Babies this age should also respond to simple words like "no" and look at familiar objects when you name them. If there's no babbling or your baby doesn't respond to speech or singing, a hearing evaluation should be done promptly.
13-18 months
Your baby should follow simple instructions ("give me the cup") and say a few words by 18 months. If they're not responding to language at all, not imitating sounds, or not showing progress in understanding, hearing should be checked before assuming it's just a speech delay. Hearing loss is one of the most common reasons for delayed language.
19-36 months
Toddlers with hearing loss may seem to ignore you, turn the TV volume very high, or speak much more loudly than needed. They may struggle to follow directions or seem frustrated when trying to communicate. Even mild or intermittent hearing loss (like from chronic ear infections) can affect speech development, so persistent concerns should be evaluated.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby startles to loud sounds, turns toward your voice, and seems to enjoy music and singing.
- Your baby passed the newborn hearing screen and is meeting typical milestones for responding to sound and beginning to babble.
- Your baby sometimes seems not to hear you, but it's inconsistent - they may just be deeply focused on play (common in toddlers).
- Your baby has had a few ear infections but is still babbling, responding to their name, and progressing with language.
- Your baby failed the newborn hearing screen or didn't have one done.
- Your baby is over 6 months and doesn't turn toward voices or sounds consistently.
- Your baby is over 9 months with no babbling, or babbling has decreased over time.
- Your baby has had multiple ear infections and you're noticing a change in how they respond to sound.
- Your baby seems to hear some sounds (like a door closing) but not others (like your voice).
- Your baby has completely stopped babbling or lost words they were using before.
- Your baby is over 12 months and shows no response to sounds, voices, or their name - this needs immediate hearing evaluation.
- Your baby's hearing seems to have suddenly changed after an illness, injury, or medication.
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
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Related Speech Concerns
Accent vs Speech Disorder in Bilingual Toddlers
When toddlers grow up hearing more than one language, they naturally blend sounds, patterns, and accents from both languages. This is normal and healthy, not a speech disorder. A bilingual child may pronounce some sounds differently than monolingual peers because they are learning the sound systems of two languages simultaneously. True speech disorders affect both languages equally, while accent influence appears only in specific sounds borrowed from one language to another.
Ear Fluid Affecting Baby's Speech Development
Chronic or recurrent middle ear fluid (otitis media with effusion) can temporarily reduce hearing by 15 to 40 decibels, which is like hearing through water. During critical periods of language learning, this muffled hearing can impact speech and language development. If your baby has frequent ear infections or persistent fluid, discuss the potential speech impact with your pediatrician.
Will Ear Tubes Help My Child's Speech?
Ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes) can restore normal hearing by draining persistent fluid from the middle ear. Many children show speech and language improvement within weeks to months after tube placement, particularly if hearing loss from fluid was contributing to their speech delay. However, ear tubes alone may not resolve all speech delays, and some children benefit from speech therapy alongside tube placement.
Baby Failed Newborn Hearing Screen - What Now?
Failing a newborn hearing screen does not necessarily mean your baby has hearing loss. Many babies who fail the initial screen pass on follow-up testing. However, it is critical to complete follow-up testing by 3 months of age. If hearing loss is confirmed, early intervention by 6 months of age leads to significantly better language outcomes.
Baby Using Jargon but No Real Words
Jargon babbling, which sounds like your baby is having a conversation in a made-up language, typically appears between 10 and 14 months and is a positive sign that your baby is learning the rhythm and melody of speech. Real words usually emerge from jargon over the following months. If no real words appear by 16 to 18 months, a speech evaluation may be helpful.
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.