A Guide to Pediatric Hearing Milestones
As a parent, ensuring that your baby is healthy and strong is at the top of your priority list. Yet some people don’t realize that hearing loss can be a problem in children as young as newborns. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, out of every 1,000 babies born, up to six are inflicted with permanent hearing loss. To stay on top of your child’s hearing abilities, make sure to look for these pediatric hearing milestones:
Birth - 3 Months
As a young baby, your child should be able to recognize certain sounds and show specific reactions. For instance, a baby this age should be startled by loud noises, but should also be able to be soothed by a familiar voice.
3-6 Months
During this phase, babies should be starting to produce their own simple noises (such as gurgles and “oohs”), and should be able to turn their heads to locate the origin of a sound.
6-10 Months
By this age, your child should be able to respond to his or her own name, as well as be able to understand simple words like “yes” or “no.”
10-15 Months
When a child is around one year old, he or she should be able to imitate certain sounds and simple words, and should also be able to associate certain words with familiar objects or people.
15-18 Months
As your child continues to develop, his or her vocabulary of single words should be expanding, and your child should also be able to follow simple oral directions.
Monitoring your child’s hearing progress is very important—many parents are unaware of these milestones of pediatric hearing, which can lead to serious issues that could have been solved earlier. If you are interested in having your child’s hearing tested, visit Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P. C., or call us at (678) 733-9732 for more information.
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