Hearing Problems in Children | Diagnosis & Tests

How will my doctor diagnose my child?

Children who are born with hearing problems can usually be diagnosed with a hearing screening. All babies should have a hearing screening within 1 month after being born. Many hospitals screen newborn babies for hearing problems. If your newborn baby has not had a hearing screening, talk with your doctor.

Birth to 4 Months of Age

		Yes	No
Is your baby startled by a sudden loud sound, such as a cough, a shout, a dog bark or a hand-clap?		_____	_____
When sleeping in a quiet room, does your baby move or wake up at the sound of voices or nearby noises?		_____	_____
When your baby is crying or fretful, does he or she seem to calm down, even for a few seconds, when you speak while out of his or her sight, when music starts or when there is a sudden loud noise?		_____	_____
At 3 to 4 months of age, does your baby sometimes turn his or her head or move his or her eyes toward a sound?		_____	_____
Does your baby seem to recognize his or her mother's voice better than other voices?		_____	_____

4 to 8 Months of Age

		Yes	No
Does your baby turn his or her head and eyes toward a sound when the sound is coming from outside your baby's peripheral (side) vision?		_____	_____
In a quiet setting, does your baby's expression change or do your baby's eyes widen at the sound of a voice or a loud noise?		_____	_____
Does your baby enjoy ringing bells, squeezing noisemakers or shaking a rattle?		_____	_____
By 6 months of age, does your baby seem to talk or babble back to people who are speaking or making noises?		_____	_____
By 6 months of age, does your baby's babbling include 4 different sounds?		_____	_____

8 to 12 Months of Age

		Yes	No
Does your baby turn directly and quickly toward a soft noisemaker, to the calling of his or her name, or to a shush that is outside his or her peripheral (side) vision?		_____	_____
Does your baby's voice go up and down in pitch when he or she is babbling?		_____	_____
Does your baby make several different consonant sounds (such as m, b, p, g) when he or she is babbling?		_____	_____
Does your baby seem to enjoy music and respond to it by listening, bouncing or singing along?		_____	_____
Does your baby understand the command no?