Age-Appropriate Speech and Hearing Milestones
Hearing develops early in fetal development and is fully functioning at birth. While children respond differently at different stages of growth and development, hearing problems may be suspected in children who are not responding to sounds or who are not developing their language skills appropriately. The following are some age-related guidelines that may help to decide if your child is experiencing hearing problems.
It is important to remember that not every child is the same, and children reach milestones at different ages. Talk with your child's healthcare provider if you are suspicious that your child is not hearing appropriately. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and other experts list the following age-appropriate hearing milestones for babies and toddlers.
Milestones related to speech and hearing
Birth to 3 months
4 to 6 months
7 to 12 months
1 to 2 years