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Being a first-time parent comes with a lot of emotions and questions. Many parents share that they’re not sure what’s normal versus when they should call a doctor. How do you know? It’s not like newborns come with a manual of instructions!
Some of the questions parents often ask include “How can I tell if my baby can hear me?” or “When do I know to make an appointment with a pediatric audiologist?” This quick checklist tells you what to look for and what to do next.
Why your baby’s hearing matters
Hearing is critical to your baby's brain development. It builds the foundation for listening, talking, literacy, critical thinking, and other important skills. Identifying any hearing issues early on is important to ensure your baby doesn't miss a moment of listening and learning.
That’s why almost every baby has a newborn hearing screening before leaving the hospital. Make sure you know the results of your baby’s screening so you know your next steps. If your baby failed the screening — or you're not sure of the results — follow up with your pediatrician right away and ask about a hearing screening or an appointment with a pediatric audiologist.
When you should consider getting your baby’s hearing tested
Maybe your baby passed the hearing screening at birth but now you have concerns about his hearing. How do you know if your baby’s hearing needs to be tested? What should you be looking out for?
Here are some of the top indicators that you should get those little ears tested:
- If your baby doesn't respond to sounds. Does your baby startle at loud sounds or react when you call his name?
- If your baby doesn't understand or say simple vocabulary words, such as mama and dada, by 1 year old. Not having a small vocabulary of spoken words would be an indicator to get their hearing tested.
- If your baby isn't meeting developmental milestones, you may also want to talk with your pediatrician about his hearing.
Trust your instincts. If you're concerned that your baby might not be hearing, talk to the pediatrician. Ask for a referral to a pediatric audiologist for a hearing evaluation. If you need to, you can also directly contact a pediatric audiologist's office yourself to schedule an appointment.
Hearing is so important for your child's brain development, so you want to act urgently if you have a concern.
At the time of your baby's newborn hearing screening, it might have been recommended that their hearing be re-screened regularly due to known risk factors, like time spent in the NICU or a family history of hearing loss. Make sure you maintain those appointments, so you always know the status of your baby's hearing.
Remember, these early days for your baby are a critically important time for brain development. As he learns and grows, you'll want your little one to have all the wonderful listening and language opportunities his brain needs, from lullabies and “I love you,” to story time and peekaboos.
If you want more information on preparing for your baby’s hearing evaluation, check out this Hearing First article or watch this video so you feel confident in your next steps.
This article was provided by Hearing First. Hearing First supports families and professionals to help children with hearing loss have the opportunity to take advantage of access to sound — a critical building block for future success.
