Your baby starts discovering the world of sound before they are even born. From recognising familiar voices to turning towards a favourite song, hearing plays an important part in their early development and is closely linked with learning to communicate.
But when can babies hear, and what hearing milestones can you expect during their first year?
When can babies hear?
Your baby's hearing begins developing during pregnancy. By the later stages of pregnancy, they can hear sounds from inside your body, such as your heartbeat, as well as sounds and voices from the outside world.
Your voice is one of the sounds they hear most frequently, so it may already be familiar to them when they are born.
After birth, babies continue learning about the sounds around them. Hearing and communication develop alongside one another as your baby begins listening to voices, responding to sounds and eventually experimenting with sounds of their own.
Baby hearing development: birth to 3 months
During their first few months, your baby may:
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React or startle in response to loud sounds
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Calm down or smile when you speak to them
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Recognise familiar voices
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Begin cooing and making different sounds
Talking to your baby from the very beginning is a simple way to encourage their communication development. They may not understand the words yet, but they are listening to the sounds, rhythm and tone of your voice.
Baby hearing development: 4 to 6 months
Between four and six months, babies become increasingly interested in where sounds are coming from.
You may notice your baby:
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Following sounds with their eyes
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Responding to changes in the tone of your voice
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Noticing toys that make sounds
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Paying attention to music
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Laughing, gurgling and babbling
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Experimenting with different sounds
By around six months, most babies are beginning to recognise the basic sounds of the language or languages they hear around them.
Baby hearing development: 7 to 12 months
During the second half of their first year, your baby's listening and communication skills develop rapidly.
They may begin to:
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Turn towards sounds
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Listen when you speak
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Recognise familiar words and the names of everyday objects
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Respond to simple requests
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Babble using different groups of sounds
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Copy some speech sounds
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Use gestures such as waving
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Say one or two simple words by around their first birthday
Every baby develops at their own pace, so these milestones should be treated as a guide rather than a strict timetable.
How can I encourage my baby's hearing and communication development?
Everyday interaction is one of the best ways to support your baby's early communication skills.
Talk to them throughout the day, sing songs and nursery rhymes, look at picture books together and introduce them to different everyday sounds. You can also describe what you're doing as you dress them, feed them or get them ready for bed.
A bedtime story can become a lovely part of your baby's evening routine, even when they're too young to understand the story itself. Hearing your voice and listening to the rhythm and repetition of language all contribute to their early communication experiences.
You don't need to fill every moment with noise or entertainment, though. Babies also benefit from calm periods and time to take in what's happening around them.
How can I tell if my baby can hear properly?
Babies respond to sound in different ways, and their responses change as they grow. You might notice a newborn reacting to a sudden loud noise, while an older baby may turn towards your voice, follow a sound or respond when you speak to them.
In the UK, babies are offered a newborn hearing screening test, usually within the first few weeks after birth. This helps identify babies who may have hearing loss so that support can be offered as early as possible.
It's important to remember that newborn screening does not detect every type of hearing loss, and hearing can change as children grow.
If your baby doesn't appear to respond to sounds, stops responding to sounds they previously noticed, or you have any concerns about their hearing or communication development, speak to your health visitor or GP. You don't need to wait until your baby reaches a particular milestone before asking for advice.
Every baby develops differently
Developmental milestones are useful guides, but they aren't deadlines. Some babies will reach certain stages earlier than others.
Rather than comparing your baby with other children of the same age, look at how their own listening, communication and interaction skills are developing over time. If something doesn't feel right, your health visitor or GP can offer advice and arrange further hearing checks if needed.
FAQs about baby hearing development
When can a baby first hear?
A baby's hearing begins developing during pregnancy. By the later stages of pregnancy, babies can hear sounds from both inside and outside the body, including voices.
Can newborn babies recognise their mum's voice?
Babies are exposed to their mum's voice repeatedly during pregnancy, so it can already be familiar to them after birth.
When do babies start responding to sounds?
Babies can react to sounds from birth. During the first three months, you may notice your baby reacting to loud noises, calming when spoken to or responding to familiar voices.
When do babies turn towards sounds?
During the first six months, babies generally become increasingly able to locate and follow sounds. Between four and six months, you may notice your baby following sounds with their eyes and paying more attention to voices, music and noisy toys.
When do babies recognise their name?
Many babies begin responding to familiar words and sounds during the second half of their first year. Development varies, so there isn't one exact age at which every baby will recognise or respond to their name.
What should I do if I'm worried about my baby's hearing?
Speak to your health visitor or GP if you're concerned about your baby's hearing at any age. They can advise you and arrange further hearing assessment if necessary.
Baby development varies from child to child. The milestones in this article are intended as general guidance and should not replace advice from a healthcare professional.
