Newborn Hearing and Vision: Screening Tests and What Babies See and Hear

Hearing at birth

• Babies hear well at birth and already know the voices they heard in the womb. Many calm to a familiar voice in the first days.
• Every baby should have a newborn hearing screen, usually before leaving the hospital or birth center. It's quick and painless, often done while the baby sleeps.
• The 1-3-6 plan: screen by 1 month, full hearing test by 3 months if the screen isn't a pass, and support started by 6 months if there is hearing loss.
• Not passing the screen is common, often from fluid or debris in the ear after birth. It doesn't mean the baby can't hear, but the follow-up test really matters. Book it promptly.
• Born at home or discharged early? Ask your midwife or pediatrician where to get the screen.

Hearing milestones

• Newborn: startles or blinks at sudden loud sounds; quiets or stirs to voices.
• By 2-3 months: coos, calms to your voice, may smile when spoken to.
• By 4-6 months: turns eyes or head toward sounds, enjoys rattles and music, babbles with varied sounds.
• Hearing loss can also develop later, after some infections or with a family history. Keep watching even after a pass.

Vision at birth

• Newborns see best about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) away, roughly the distance to a caregiver's face during a feed. Beyond that, the world is blurry.
• They prefer faces and high-contrast patterns: black and white, bold edges.
• Color vision develops over the first months. By about 4-5 months it is much richer.
• Eyes may wander or cross now and then in the first months. That's common while eye muscles learn to work together, and usually settles by about 4 months.

Vision milestones

• By 1-2 months: looks at faces, follows a slowly moving face or object briefly.
• By 2-3 months: follows objects side to side, smiles back at a smiling face.
• By 4-6 months: reaches for toys, eyes work together most of the time, tracks across the room.

Checks the pediatrician does

• A red reflex test at birth and well visits: a light shows a red glow in each pupil, like red-eye in photos. It screens for cataracts and rare eye tumors.
• Eye alignment, tracking and response to light.

Everyday ways to support senses

• Talk, sing and read to your baby in any language your family speaks (see the talk to your baby guide).
• Face time close up. Let babies watch your mouth when you talk.
• Simple high-contrast cards or patterns during tummy time. No screens needed.
• Keep sound levels sensible: no headphones on babies; use ear protection at fireworks or concerts.

When to check in

• Book the full hearing test right away if the screen wasn't a pass, or if it was never done.
• Mention at a checkup if your baby doesn't startle at loud sounds, doesn't turn to sounds by about 6 months, doesn't follow faces by about 3 months, or if eyes still cross or wander often after 4 months.
• A white, yellow or cloudy pupil, including a white glow in one eye in flash photos, needs a prompt visit within days.