Birth to three 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.

Four to six 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.

Seven months to one 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.

One to two 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")

Two to three 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.

Three to four 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.

Four-and-one-half to five 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.