How to Check Your Baby's Vision and Hearing
Screening Your Child's Sight and Ability to Hear
Oct 28, 2009
If your baby has vision or hearing problems, the earlier you catch them, the sooner you can tell your doctor. Early intervention to correct problems can make a difference in your baby’s overall development. Your doctor will perform thorough examinations of your baby’s vision and hearing at each visit. But there are things that you can do to tell if your baby is having difficulty seeing or hearing.
How You Can Check Your Baby's Vision
There are many signs to watch for that may indicate your baby could have a vision problem. Tell your doctor if you notice anything physically unusual about your baby's eyes such as discharge, constant tearing or redness around the eyes, if your baby is bothered by bright lights, if he rubs his eyes a lot or his eyelid(s) droop, if his irises appear cloudy or if his eyes are crossed or wander rather than focusing on objects.
Your baby's behavior may also indicate that he has a vision problem. Check your child’s vision by dangling toys or other bright objects in front of him and moving them from side to side to see if he follows them visually or reaches for them, or makes funny faces to see if he smiles or laughs. Tell your doctor if your baby doesn’t reach for toys dangled in front of him, if he doesn't notice bright colors or patterns, or if he doesn't look at your face or see you from across the room.
If you suspect your baby has a vision problem, your pediatrician will want to perform a thorough examination. Your baby’s doctor won't be able to test for visual acuity until your child is at least three years old. In the meantime, he will closely examine your baby's eyes for problems. He’ll check the shape and size of the eyes and eyelids use a bright light for the "red reflex," a red color that is reflected off the back of a baby's eyes. If this is not present, it could mean the existence of a cataract, glaucoma, or an eye defect. The doctor will also look for blocked tear ducts. Your baby may need to see a pediatric ophthalmologist for further examination.
How You Can Check Your Baby's Hearing
If you suspect your baby has a hearing problem, be sure to tell your doctor right away. The earlier you can help your baby hear, the greater the chances that his development won't be affected. Tell your doctor if you see any physical problems with your baby's ears such as a discharge, or if your baby tugs at his ears and seems like he may be in pain from an earache.
Your baby's behavior can also indicate a possible hearing problem. He should react in specific ways at different ages if he can hear properly. To check hearing, make different kinds of noises out of the baby's range of hearing to see if the baby responds. Make loud noises to check for a startle response or sing to the baby and look for a reaction to that sound. Let your doctor know if he isn’t startled by a sudden loud sound, such as when you clap your hands, or he doesn’t move or wake up when there is noise in the room. If at three to four months of age, your baby doesn’t turn his head or move his eyes toward a sound, or if he doesn't recognize your voice over others, he may not be hearing properly. If by six months your baby’s expression stays the same when he hears a loud noise or voice, or if he doesn’t respond to the sound of a shaking rattle or jingle bells, he may not be hearing them.
By the time your baby is eight months, his voice should inflect (go up and down) when he’s babbling, and he should be able to make several consonant sounds. He should also enjoy music and respond to it, and he should respond to the word "no."
Your baby’s doctor should do a hearing screening within the first month of life. If a problem is suspected, he will refer you to an audiologist (hearing specialist).
Two types of hearing tests are used to screen a baby's hearing: an otoacoustic emission that shows whether parts of the ear respond to sound; and an auditory brain stem response that tells how the baby’s brain stem and brain respond to sound. No activity is required from your baby during either test.
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