From 4 to 8 Months - Hearing and Speech

From 4 to 8 months of age, check to see if your baby does most of the things listed below. By 5 to 7 months of age, babies are actively enjoying the pleasure of babbling to themselves and to you.

• Responds to mother's voice.
• Enjoys rattles and other sound-making toys.
• Begins to turn head toward sounds that are out of sight.
• Is startled or awakened by loud noise.
• Laughs out loud.
• Around 7 to 8 months, begins to babble using repeated syllables such as ba-ba-ba, pa-pa-pa, da-da-da.
• Makes noises to herself when playing.

If you suspect a hearing or speech problem ask to be referred to a licensed audiologist who has experience in testing for hearing loss in babies.