Hearing: when your baby can hear

What and especially when can a baby hear? A lot and already in the womb. Find out here how your baby’s hearing develops and how you can recognize possible hearing damage.

Your unborn baby can hear your voice

Your baby can already hear before it even sees the light of day. Already in your belly, from about the seventh month of pregnancy, your unborn child can hear noises. For example, it perceives your heartbeat and the rushing of your blood and even external voices reach it. So it’s not surprising that your baby can recognize your voice from birth. After all, it is very familiar with her and she thus gives him a pleasant feeling of closeness and security. Your newborn can also recognize other voices that it often heard in the womb. In general, it prefers to hear quiet and monotonous sounds that remind it of the environment in your stomach. It reacts better to higher pitches, such as is common when using the affectionate and sometimes ridiculed Gutzi-Gutzi language (nurse language), than to lower ones.

First month of life: Hearing is still developing

In the first few days after birth, your baby will experience a smooth transition from the muffled womb to the noisy world outside when it comes to listening volume. This is due to the amniotic fluid still present in his ears, which first has to dissolve. But even after this process, it is difficult for your baby to be disturbed by noises while sleeping: the telephone ringing or raging siblings cannot usually wake it up. Only particularly loud and unexpected noises can startle it. Towards the end of the first month of life, your baby’s hearing is finally fully developed. However, it will take a while before it understands you exactly.

From the second month of life: The reactions become sharper

Your baby will gradually react more and more intensively to noises. For example, if it hears your voice, it will probably look at you specifically or show you by chuckling and squeaking that it heard you. From about the fourth to fifth month of life, your baby can determine the direction from which a sound is coming and turn to the appropriately identified source. Your baby will also gradually develop the ability to imitate sounds and voices. The connection between hearing and language development is thus becoming ever closer.

From the seventh month: Your baby understands you better and better

Your baby’s understanding of words is growing day by day. It understands what is meant when you name common objects, such as a ball. It may even respond to its name. Your baby will also discover that it can make different noises with different objects. This helps him in the further development of his hearing.

From the age of ten months: the louder the better

At the age of ten to twelve months, your baby will increasingly develop a soft spot for noise and music. It prefers to make the noise itself by making loud noises, for example with the rattling of building blocks. You can also be sure that your baby understands you quite well. Many babies speak their first few words at the age of one. However, the understanding of the word is usually much higher. Your baby will certainly point enthusiastically to the red car if you ask it about it, but it may not be able to say it itself. Have a look at our article “Learning to speak” and find out how your child goes from chattering to the first right words.

In this way you can support the development of your baby’s hearing

Even if your baby’s hearing is developed early, you can support it right from the start by familiarizing it with lots of new sounds. You can also promote his language development with these simple measures:

  • Sing to your baby. In our special “Children’s Songs” you will find many suggestions and further background information.
  • Put on music or a CD with nature sounds, such as the sound of the sea. Your baby will love it.
  • Read to your baby, even if they can’t necessarily understand the content yet. Reading aloud not only promotes his feeling for the speech melody. The more your baby hears, the better his language will develop. In our special “Children’s Books” you will find age-appropriate book recommendations.
  • However, avoid sensory overload for your baby. It cannot process too many impressions at once.

Early detection and treatment of hearing damage

As a rule, the hospital examines after birth whether your baby can hear. At the latest, however, your baby’s hearing should be tested as part of the U-examinations . In addition, you should definitely consult your pediatrician if you observe the following points in your baby. They can indicate a hearing problem that may not have developed until after an examination.

  • Your baby will not startle at loud and unexpected noises.
  • From the age of two months, your baby shows no reaction when hearing your voice.
  • If your baby suddenly stops babbling at the age of seven to nine months, this can also indicate hearing damage.
  • Your baby isn’t chattering at twelve months.
  • At 18 months, your child will not speak a word.

In addition, you can use the following age-related tests to check whether there is hearing damage or whether it has developed. If your baby doesn’t show the expected reaction, you should definitely talk to your pediatrician:

  • Up to three months: Your baby should show a reaction when you clap your hands behind his head. Repeat the process a few times to be on the safe side.
  • Four to six months: Make noises or call for your baby. It should react to the sounds and also to your voice.
  • Six to ten months: Your baby should react to familiar noises and possibly even to his name.
  • Ten to fifteen months: Ask your child to point to an object they are familiar with, for example in a picture book. If it doesn’t, it can be an indicator of poor hearing.

The basic rule for hearing damage is: the earlier it is detected, the greater the chances of recovery. Intact hearing is extremely important, especially in connection with language development. So if you have the feeling that something is wrong with your baby’s hearing, do not hesitate and consult your doctor.

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