• Reacts to loud sounds
• Is soothed by your voice
• Turns head to you when you speak
• Is awakened by loud voices and sounds
• Smiles when spoken to
• Seems to know your voice and quiets down if crying

3 to 6 Months (yes/no)

• Looks up or turns toward a new sound
• Responds to "no" and changes in tone of voice
• Imitates his/her own voice
• Enjoys rattles and other toys that make sounds
• Begins to repeat sounds (such as ooh, aah, and ba-ba)
• Becomes scared by a loud voice

6 to 10 Months (yes/no)

• Responds to his/her own name, telephone ringing, someone's voice, even when not loud
• Knows words for common things (cup, shoe) and saying ("bye-bye")
• Makes babbling sounds, even when alone
• Starts to respond to request such as "come here"
• Looks at things or pictures when someone talks about them

10 to 15 Months (yes/no)

• Plays with own voice, enjoying the sound and feel of it
• Points to or looks at familiar objects or people when asked to do so
• Imitates simple words and sounds; may use a few single words meaningfully
• Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

15 to 18 Months (yes/no)

• Follows simple directions, such as "give me the ball"
• Uses words he/she has learned often
• Uses 2-3 word sentences to talk about and ask for things
• Knows 10-20 words

18 to 24 Months (yes/no)

• Understands simple "yes-no" questions (Are you hungry?)
• Understands simple phrases ("in the cup" "on the table")
• Enjoys being read to
• Points to pictures when asked

24 to 36 months (yes/no)

• Understands "not now"  and "no more"
• Chooses things by size (big, little)
• Follows simple directions such as "get your shoes" and "drink your milk"
• Understands may action words (run, jump)

Talk to your doctor if you think your child has a hearing problem. 

• Do others in your family, including brothers and sisters, have a hearing problem?
• The child's mother had medical problems in pregnancy or delivery (serious illness or injury, drugs or medications).
• The baby was born early (premature). Weight at birth ______.
• The baby had physical problems at birth.
• The child rubs or pulls on ear(s) often.
• The child had scarlet fever.
• The child had meningitis.
• The child had _____ ear infections in the past year.
• The child has cold, allergies, and ear infections, once a month ____ more often ____.

For more information about hearing and hearing loss or speech and language problems, call or write:

NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
1 Communication Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20892-3456
(800) 241- 1044 (Voice)
(800) 241- 1055 (TDD/TT)