Your baby could begin to hear in the womb, which is why the familiar sound of your voice is so soothing as they adapt to life in your arms. By the time your baby is born, they can hear well, but their hearing will continue to develop over the next six months.
Newborn hearing tests are typically conducted in the hospital or shortly after birth, as early intervention is crucial in the unlikely event hearing loss is detected.
At home, you should already notice that your newborn is responsive to sounds—both soothed by sounds they love, such as their favorite lullaby, and startled by unexpected and loud ones.
You can expose your baby to new and varied sounds to support their auditory development.
Be mindful of overstimulation.Having too many electronics on or competing noises can lead to overwhelm. You’ll want to isolate one sense at a time for your baby, so when introducing the sound that a rattle toy makes, for example, ensure the space is quiet so they can focus on the one sound of the rattle.
Prioritize real sounds over artificial ones.You don’t need to buy noisy toys to engage your baby’s hearing. Taking your baby around your home and letting them hear the sounds of everyday life will be much more purposeful to them. This can include: - The sound of knocking on our door or ringing a doorbell - The sound of the wind on a breezy day - The sounds our animals make - The noise of keys jingling
Over time, as your baby’s social, emotional, cognitive, and motor skills improve in parallel, your baby should react and engage more noticeably to varying sounds. If you ever have concerns about your baby’s hearing, consult your pediatrician.