Children & Family 15 August 2026 · 5 min read · By Dr. Sofia Bennett
Hearing loss in children rarely announces itself. A child who seems inattentive, speaks loudly, or falls behind in speech may simply not be hearing clearly. Knowing the milestones — and testing when in doubt — protects language development at the age it matters most.
Milestones worth watching
Newborns startle at loud sounds. By six months, babies turn toward voices. First words typically arrive around twelve months, with rapid vocabulary growth through age three. Any stall — no babbling by nine months, no single words by sixteen months — deserves a hearing check alongside developmental review.
Testing feels like play
For toddlers we use visual reinforcement: the child turns toward a sound and is rewarded with a light-up toy. School-age children wear headphones and respond to tones like a game. Babies are tested during natural sleep with soft ear probes. None of it hurts, and most appointments finish within half an hour.
Don't wait for school to flag it
Fluid behind the eardrums from repeated colds and ear infections is the most common cause of temporary childhood hearing loss — and it's highly treatable. If your child asks "what?" often, sits close to the TV, or struggles in noisy classrooms, book a screening rather than waiting for the next school check.
Concerned about your child's hearing? Start with our play-based pediatric hearing screening or book a consultation with Dr. Bennett.