Baby's hearing

Hearing in newborns is one of the five senses, developing between the 26th and 28th week of pregnancy. Through it, your baby will discover the world around them and become accustomed to the sounds of the outside world once they are born.

How does a newborn's hearing develop?

The foetus begins to hear whilst developing in its mother's womb; at first, it can only hear sounds from inside its mother's body — heartbeats, digestive sounds — before gradually hearing sounds from the outside world, with increasing clarity as it develops. When the newborn comes into the world, they recognise sounds that are familiar to them, such as their mother's voice, their father's voice, voices they have heard frequently, as well as certain familiar sounds such as the engine of the family car.

Hearing checks

From the moment of birth, healthcare professionals carry out small hearing screening tests on the baby to detect any potential issues. If an abnormality is suspected, the child can be seen quickly so that the necessary care can be put in place. During the first few months, the child will be regularly assessed during their visits to the paediatrician. It is worth knowing that it is very often the parents themselves who detect a hearing problem in their baby: if you notice that your little one does not react to the sounds around them, to your stimulation, that they have a speech delay or behavioural difficulties, do not wait — consult an ENT specialist and share your concerns with them.

Can you stimulate a baby's hearing?

If you would like to stimulate your child's auditory development, here are a few simple activities you can try:

• Talk to them and sing them lullabies;
• Give them small toys (such as a rattle with a bell) to play with, or have fun shaking them from one side of their head to the other so they search for where the sound is coming from;
• Limit excessively loud or intrusive sounds such as the television or a hi-fi system, to avoid sound pollution for the baby;
• Read them stories and have fun changing your voice to suit the different characters;
• Narrate daily life by drawing their attention whenever there is a new or sudden sound they do not know, such as the car engine starting or the washing machine switching on. A baby's hearing is something to be taken seriously and not left to chance; it enables them to thrive in the new world around them and forms the very foundation of their learning in the broadest sense.