Baby Hearing Test & Milestones | Parenting Hub
All Australian newborns are offered a hearing screen. Here's what to expect and how baby hearing develops in the first year.
Newborn hearing screening picks up most permanent hearing loss early. Knowing the milestones helps you flag anything new.
The newborn hearing screen
In Australia, all newborns are offered a free hearing screen (often called SWISH or a similar state program) in the first few weeks. It's quick, painless and usually done in hospital or at a follow-up appointment.
A 'refer' result doesn't always mean hearing loss — fluid or movement during the test can affect it. A second test confirms the result.
Hearing milestones
You'll naturally notice these over the first year.
- Newborn — startles to loud sounds, calms to familiar voices
- 3 months — turns towards voices, coos in response
- 6 months — turns to soft sounds across the room, babbles with variety
- 9 months — responds to own name, copies sounds
- 12 months — follows simple words like 'no' or 'wave bye-bye', says 1–2 words
When to ask for a check
Trust your gut — if you're worried baby isn't responding to sound, isn't babbling by 9 months, or stops making sounds they used to, ask for a hearing review. After meningitis, head injury or recurrent infections, hearing should also be checked.
When to seek help
- No startle to loud sounds
- Not babbling by 9 months
- Loss of previously gained sounds or words
- After meningitis, severe jaundice or head injury
Common questions
What if we missed the newborn screen?
Speak to your GP or maternal child health nurse — they can arrange a hearing test at any age.