Baby Not Responding to Sounds
The short answer
Babies should respond to sounds from birth - startling at loud noises, calming to familiar voices, and turning toward sounds by 4-6 months. If your baby consistently doesn't react to sounds, a hearing evaluation should be your first step. Hearing loss affects about 1-3 in 1,000 newborns and is highly treatable when caught early - early identification leads to much better language outcomes.
By Age
What to expect by age
Newborns should startle or blink in response to loud, sudden sounds (called the Moro reflex). They should also calm or become alert when they hear familiar voices, especially their mother's voice. All newborns in the US receive a hearing screening before leaving the hospital. If your baby passed this screening but you have concerns, trust your instincts - hearing can change, and a follow-up evaluation is easy to arrange.
By 3-4 months, babies should be turning their eyes or head toward the source of a sound. They should respond to your voice by smiling, cooing, or becoming quiet. By 6 months, babies typically localize sound well - they turn directly toward where a sound is coming from. If your baby doesn't do any of these things, request a formal audiological evaluation.
Babies at this age should respond to their name, turn toward new sounds, and seem to enjoy music or singing. They should also be starting to babble, which requires being able to hear their own sounds and the sounds of others. Absence of babbling by 9 months can sometimes indicate a hearing concern and should be assessed.
By this age, babies should clearly respond to familiar words, turn reliably when called by name, and respond to simple verbal requests. If your baby seems to ignore sounds, especially voices and their name, a comprehensive hearing evaluation is essential. Hearing loss can be partial - affecting only certain frequencies - so even a baby who responds to some sounds may have a hearing issue.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby sometimes ignores sounds when deeply focused on playing or exploring - selective attention is normal and different from not hearing.
- Your baby startles at loud sounds but doesn't always turn toward quieter sounds - sound localization develops gradually during the first 6 months.
- Your baby responds more to voices and music than to environmental noises - babies naturally prioritize human speech sounds.
- Your baby passed their newborn hearing screening and responds to sounds inconsistently - they may just be absorbed in what they're doing.
- Your baby is over 4 months and doesn't consistently turn toward the source of sounds.
- Your baby doesn't seem to notice when you enter the room and start talking unless they can see you.
- Your baby is over 9 months and doesn't respond to their name, even when you're close and there are no distractions.
- Your baby had frequent ear infections and you've noticed a change in their responsiveness to sounds.
- Your newborn doesn't startle at loud, sudden sounds - request a hearing screening if one hasn't been done, or a follow-up if the initial screen was inconclusive.
- Your baby at any age seems to have stopped responding to sounds they used to react to - sudden hearing changes can be caused by ear infections, fluid buildup, or other treatable conditions.
- Your baby has no babbling by 9 months AND doesn't respond to sounds - this combination strongly suggests hearing should be tested immediately.
Sources
Related Resources
Related Speech Concerns
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.
Baby Not Making Vowel Sounds
Most babies begin making vowel sounds - those lovely "oooh," "aaah," and "eee" sounds - around 2 to 3 months of age. This early cooing is one of the first steps in language development. Some babies are naturally quieter than others, but if your baby isn't making any vowel sounds by 4 months, it's worth checking in with your pediatrician to make sure hearing and development are on track.
Baby Not Responding to Own Name Consistently
Most babies start recognizing and responding to their own name between 5 and 7 months, though consistent response may take until 9 months. It's common for babies to sometimes ignore their name when they're focused on something interesting - this is normal. However, if your baby rarely or never turns when you say their name by 9 months, it's worth discussing with your pediatrician to check hearing and development.
Baby Not Turning to Sounds
Babies typically begin turning toward sounds around 4 to 6 months of age. If your baby isn't consistently looking toward voices or noises by 6 months, it's worth having their hearing checked. In many cases, something as simple as fluid in the ears can temporarily affect hearing, and early identification leads to the best outcomes.