Here is a simple checklist from the National Foundation for the Deaf. If the answer is "no" to more than one or two questions, you should have an audiologist test your baby's hearing.
SIX WEEKS
If there is a loud noise, does baby:
Jump or blink
Stir in his or her sleep
Stop sucking for
a moment
Look up from sucking
Cry
THREE MONTHS
Does your baby:
Blink or cry at a sudden noise
Stop crying or sucking when you talk
Wake or stir to loud sounds
Coo or smile when you talk
Turn his or her eyes to voices
Seem to like a new musical toy
Stop moving when there is a new sound
Seem to know your voice
SIX MONTHS
Does your baby:
Turn towards a sound or someone speaking
Smile when you talk
Cry when there is a sudden noise
Stop moving at a new sound
Like music
Make lots of different babbling sounds
NINE MONTHS
Does your baby:
Respond to his or her own name
Look around to find new sounds, even quiet sounds
Listen when people talk
Like copying sounds
Use babbling sounding like real speech
Try to talk back when you talk
TWELVE MONTHS
Does your child:
Point to things or people he or she knows when asked to
Copy and repeat simple words or sounds
Try to talk
Understand often-spoken words like "Come here"
Say two or three words
Listen when people talk
Do what he or she is told
Say sentences with two words, like "Me drink"
Know a few parts of the body
Do one thing when asked, like "Get your shoes"
Ask for things by pointing, trying to say the word
Understand things like "Give me that" or "Don't touch"
TWO YEARS
Does your child:
Do two things when asked, such as "Get the ball and bring it here"
Repeat what you say
Know lots of words
Like being read to
Point to a picture when asked, for example "Show me the baby"
Use the names of people and things he or she knows
Have a name for him or herself
Like the radio
Say simple sentences like "Milk all gone"
THREE YEARS
Does your child:
Know a few rhymes or songs
Understand most words
Find you when you call from another room
Tell a story
Use words like "me", "go", "in", and "big"
Remember and tell about things that have happened
Count to three
Like naming things.
Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/health
