

One to two babies in every 1,000 are born with permanent hearing loss in one or both ears (NHS 2021a).ĭon’t worry if your baby sleeps through loud noises such as a phone ringing or the dog barking – it’s totally normal. How will I know if my baby has hearing loss?Hearing loss in babies is rare. Playing games such as "Peek-a-boo" or "Round and Round the Garden" will also help your baby to learn about listening, taking turns and paying attention (NHS 2020). The more you talk and read aloud, the more sounds and words your little one will learn as they get ready to talk. Try varying the pitch of your voice or singing as you read, to make it more fun.
#Womb listening to music meme full#
You don’t have to read the full story, you can just chatter about what you see in the pictures. Reading to your baby, right from the start, will also help their language skills and hearing development (NHS 2020). The sound of familiar objects, such as a ticking clock, may also amuse them. You may notice that your baby seems to enjoy some sounds and music more than others, as they begin to develop their own taste. Share your favourite tunes with them, and see which ones they like. Your baby will be delighted by lots of sounds and music, so you don't have to restrict them to children's songs. Try singing nursery rhymes or playing music, or helping them to make noises with household items such as pans and wooden spoons (Graven and Browne 2008). See more baby videos How can I encourage my baby's hearing?You can do plenty of things to help your baby recognise and learn new sounds, without spending any money on gadgets or kit. They might stare at your face with interest as you talk, and make gurgling and cooing noises (PHE 2013).ĭiscover how different sounds can help your child learn and develop. Your baby’s hearing at four monthsFrom four months your baby may react excitedly to sounds, even when they can’t see the source of them.

They may just have had enough stimulation for one day. If they look the other way or lose concentration while you talk or read to them, it doesn’t always mean there's anything affecting their hearing. They might go quiet at the sound of something like a rattle, even if it's out of sight, and they may smile at the sound of your voice (Sharma et al 2022).īabbling and listening can be hard work for your baby at this age. For example, their brow might wrinkle, or they could move their head from side to side as if searching for the sound source. Your baby’s hearing at three monthsBy three months, the parts of your baby's brain that help with hearing, language, understanding and smell will be more receptive and active.īy this age, your baby might turn their head towards a nearby sound, or react in other ways. They may startle at unexpected or loud sounds (PHE 2013). They'll also respond to familiar noises, such as your voice, or a lullaby you play or sing to them often. Which hearing milestones should my baby reach in their first year? Your newborn baby’s hearingYour baby will pay close attention to sounds from birth, especially high-pitched ones. In spite of this, your baby will love to hear the voices of you and other family members from the moment they’re born. Secondly, parts of your baby's brain that deal with hearing are still developing (Graven and Browne 2008, Sharma et al 2022 ). Firstly, at birth your baby's ears are still full of fluid, which may take some time to completely clear (AAO-HNS 2021, NHS 2021 a). However, it may take up to six months before they can hear and understand a full range of sounds. When will my baby’s hearing develop fully? Your baby’s hearing is well-developed at birth (Sharma et al 2022). Learn about the hearing test your newborn will have and how their hearing might develop, as well as what to do if you think your baby has any hearing loss. In fact, newborns have been shown to prefer their mum’s voice to a stranger’s (Sharma et al 2022 ). They could even hear your voice, and other noises, when they were tucked up in your womb (uterus). Most babies have good hearing from birth. How will I know if my baby has hearing loss?.

Which hearing milestones should my baby reach in their first year?.When will my baby’s hearing develop fully?.
