Is Your Baby on Track?
Age (birth - 3 months)
Hearing:
- Recognizes your voice and is quiet for a moment when you speak.
- Startles or jumps after a loud sound.
- Stirs, wakes up, or cries when someone talks or makes a noise.
Speech:
- Makes sound indicating pleasure.
- Looks at you, looks away, then looks at you again during playtime.
- Repeats the same sounds often.
- Cries differently for different needs.
- Smiles when he/she sees you.
Age (4 - 6 months)
Hearing:
- Turns eyes towards an interesting sound, such as your voice.
- Appears to listen, then smiles when spoken to.
- Smiles or stops crying when you speak.
- Awakes easily to sounds.
- Notices toys that make sound.
Speech:
- Makes babbling noises that are more speech-like and include a variety of sounds.
- Tells you by sound or gesture when he/she wants you to do something again.
Age (7 months - 1 year)
Hearing:
- Stops or pays attention when you say "no" or call his/her name.
- Moves his/her head to try to find where a new sound is coming from.
- Strings of sounds such as "ba, ba, ba, da, da, da."
- Understands "no" and "bye-bye."
- Enjoys games like "peek-a-boo" and "pat-a-cake."
Speech:
- Has one or two words (bye-bye, mama, dada), although they may not be clear.
- Child uses speech or non-crying sounds to get and keep your attention.
Age (1 - 2 years)
Hearing:
- Gives you toys or other objects when you ask, without your having to use a gesture.
- Points to familiar objects if you ask.
- Follows simple commands and understands simple questions such as, "roll the ball,"
or "kiss the baby."
- Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.
Speech:
- Says more words every month.
- Puts two words together ("more cookie," "no juice").
Age (2 - 3 years)
Hearing:
- Understands differences between concepts such as, "go-stop," or "up-down".
- Continues to notice sounds such as a ringing telephone or doorbell.
Speech:
- Has a word for almost everything.
- Speaks understandably (to parent) most of the time.
- Uses two- or three-word sentences to talk about and ask for things.
Age (3 - 4 years)
Hearing:
- Hears you when you call him/her from another room.
- Hears television or radio at the same loudness level as the other people in the room.
- Answers simple "who," "what," "when," "where," "why" questions.
Speech:
- Talks about what he/she does at school or at friends' houses.
- Usually talks easily without repeating syllables or words.
- Is understandable to people outside your family.
- Uses many sentences that have four or more words.
Age (4.5 - 5 years)
Hearing:
- Hears and understands most of what is said at home and in school.
- Is thought by others to hear them well.
- Pays attention to a story and answers simple questions about it.
Speech:
- Communicates easily with other children and adults.
- Says all sounds correctly except maybe one or two.
- Uses the same grammar as the rest of the family.
