A newborn baby's eyes are checked for signs of abnormalities, such as congenital cataracts. Their hearing will also be tested at birth and several times during their early development.
Although serious hearing and vision problems during childhood are rare, early testing ensures that any problems are picked up and treated as early as possible.
It is important that hearing problems are identified early because a child's hearing is directly connected to their speech and language development. Their ability to see also helps with their social and educational development.
Routine hearing tests
Shortly after your baby is born, they will have their hearing tested as part of the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme. The test will usually be carried out before you leave the maternity unit, although in certain areas it may be carried out at home.
If there is no reason for concern after the hearing test, you will be given a checklist to help monitor your child's hearing development. It outlines the sounds that babies normally make and the sounds that they should respond to as they grow older.
A baby’s hearing should develop in the following way over the first year of life:
- from birth: jumps at loud noises
- 1 month: starts to notice sudden and prolonged sounds
- 4 months: shows excitement at sounds and smiles in response to the sound of a familiar voice
- 7-9 months: babbles, gurgles and coos and turns to a familiar voice across a room or to very quiet noises made on each side
- 12 months: responds to certain words, such as their name
If your baby doesn't pass the hearing screening test, they will be referred to an audiologist (a hearing specialist) for further tests.
Visit your GP if you have any concerns about your child's hearing at any stage of their development.
Read more information about how newborn hearing screening tests are performed.
Routine eye tests
Your baby's eyes will be examined within 72 hours after they are born.
They will have their second eye examination when they are six-to-eight weeks old, which will usually be carried out by your GP. Your child's vision will also be tested before they start school at around four-to-five years old.
Shortly before or after having a baby, all new mums are given a Personal Child Health Record, which highlights developmental milestones for vision.
A child’s vision should develop in the following way over the first year of life:
- 6 weeks old: follows a colourful or interesting object, such as a face, with their eyes
- 2-3 months old: starts to reach for things they see
- 3-5 months old: starts to mimic facial expressions and look at objects more closely
- 6-12 months old: focuses on objects that are both near and far away, sees simple shapes, scribbles with a crayon and is interested in pictures
When to seek medical advice
If for any reason your baby's hearing is not tested soon after they are born, ask your midwife, health visitor or GP to arrange an appointment for you.
If you think there may be a problem with your baby's hearing or eyesight, mention it to the healthcare professional carrying out the screening tests.
In older children, signs of a possible hearing problem include the following:
- inattentiveness
- talking loudly and listening to the television at a high volume
- mispronouncing words
- being unsettled at school
Your child may have a temporary problem with their hearing, such as a cold or glue ear (a build-up of fluid in the ear), or they could have a hearing impairment or be developing one.
Signs of a possible vision problem include:
- erratic eye movements
- not turning towards the source of sounds (also a sign of hearing impairment)
- poking or rubbing their eyes
- not making eye contact
Your child might have a problem with their vision, such as short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hyperopia), a lazy eye (amblyopia) or a squint (where the eyes look in different directions).
Read more about why hearing and vision tests are necessary for your child.
