Sound Off on Hearing Loss

Can You Hear Me Now?

Even babies who pass the newborn hearing screening can develop hearing loss later on. If your baby doesn't reach these milestones, it's a good idea to have her hearing retested.

At 3 months

• Turns her eyes or head toward loud sounds
• Begins to imitate some sounds
• Smiles at the sound of your voice

At 7 months

• Looks at you when you call her name
• Responds to sound by making sounds
• Babbles chains of sounds like "ba-ba-ba-ba"

At 12 months

• Responds to "no" and simple requests
• Says words like "dada" and "mama"
• Understands common phrases like "bye-bye"

At 24 months

• Says at least 15 words
• Uses two- to four-word phrases
• Repeats words overheard in conversation

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing