# Early Signs of Hearing Impairment in a 6-to-9-Month-Old Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-6-to-9-month-old Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited Between 6 and 9 months, signs a baby may not be hearing well include not turning towards sounds or voices, little or fading babble, not responding to their name, and not startling at loud noises. These don't confirm hearing loss but are a clear signal to arrange a prompt hearing check — early support protects speech and language. *By six months, most babies are turning towards the voices and sounds they love — so when a little one seems not to notice, it's worth a gentle, timely check.* ## In short Between 6 and 9 months, signs that a baby may not be hearing well include not turning towards sounds or voices, little or no babbling, not responding to their name, and not being soothed or startled by everyday sounds. None of these confirm hearing loss on their own — but they are a clear signal to arrange a hearing check soon, because early support makes a real difference to speech and language. ## What to watch between 6 and 9 months - **Doesn't turn** towards your voice, a rattle, or sounds coming from the side or behind - **Little or no babbling** — by this age many babies repeat sounds like "ba-ba" or "da-da"; babbling may begin and then fade if hearing is reduced - **No reaction to loud sounds** — not startling, blinking, or stilling when a door bangs or a toy makes noise - **Doesn't respond to their name** or to familiar voices nearby - **Not calmed by your voice** alone, or seems unusually quiet and unresponsive to sound - **Watches your face intently** but misses sounds when they can't see you A baby who hears in one ear may still turn and babble, so subtle or one-sided hearing loss can be easy to miss — which is why a formal check matters even with mild concerns. ## The science, simply Hearing is the gateway to spoken language. The first months of life are a sensitive window when the brain learns to map sounds to meaning. When sound doesn't reach the brain clearly, babbling and early words can be delayed. Many babies in India have newborn hearing screening — but hearing can change after birth, so ongoing watching at 6–9 months remains important. Identifying reduced hearing early, and supporting it, helps language develop on track. ## The Pinnacle way A clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — this article helps you notice, not diagnose. If hearing is a concern, prompt audiology assessment comes first; our [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) team then supports listening and language alongside medical care. Learn more about [hearing impairment](https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/hearing-impairment) and how early support works. ## Trusted sources Aligned with WHO ICD-11, CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." developmental milestones, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org). **Next step —** if any of these signs sound familiar, arrange a hearing check promptly and reach the Pinnacle team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 for a developmental screen. This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. ## Sources - WHO ICD-11: https://icd.who.int/en - CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early.: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development - American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): https://www.healthychildren.org ## Connected topics and perspectives - Conditions: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/conditions - Parent / Family: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent - Infant-6-9: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/age/infant-6-9 - Sensory: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/sensory - Early Signs: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/early_signs - Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen - Speech Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/speech-therapy - Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity - Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/condition/hearing - English: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/language/en - SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/sdg/10 - SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/sdg/3 - ASHA / PHC / Frontline: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/asha_phc - Doctor / Pediatrician: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/doctor ## Related question paths ### Understand the subject - How Hearing Impairment Affects a Child's Daily Life: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-hearing-impairment-affect-a-child-s-daily-life - Is Hearing Impairment considered a disability?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-hearing-impairment-considered-a-disability - Is Hearing Impairment Genetic or Hereditary?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-hearing-impairment-genetic-or-hereditary - What are common myths about Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-common-myths-about-hearing-impairment - Types and Levels of Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-hearing-impairment - What causes hearing impairment in children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-hearing-impairment-in-children - What is Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-hearing-impairment - What other conditions often occur alongside hearing impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-hearing-impairment - Early Intervention Outcomes for Hearing Impairment in Children Under 7: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-current-research-show-about-early-intervention-outcomes-for-hearing-impairment-in-children-under-7 - What is Hearing Impairment, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-hearing-impairment-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood - ICD-11 Classification of Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-hearing-impairment - What is the SNOMED CT concept for Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-snomed-ct-concept-for-hearing-impairment ### Recognise signs & concerns - Early Signs of Hearing Impairment in a 9-to-12-Month-Old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-9-to-12-month-old - Early Signs of Hearing Impairment at 3-6 Months: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-3-to-6-month-old - Early Signs of Hearing Impairment at 12–18 Months: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-12-to-18-month-old - What are the early signs of Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment - When should I worry about hearing impairment at 6–9 months?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-should-i-worry-that-my-6-to-9-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment - Can Hearing Impairment Be Cured?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-hearing-impairment-be-cured - Can Hearing Impairment Be Prevented?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-hearing-impairment-be-prevented - Do boys show hearing impairment differently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-boys-show-hearing-impairment-differently - Do girls show hearing impairment differently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-girls-show-hearing-impairment-differently - Early Signs of Hearing Impairment in a 1-Year-Old Boy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-1-year-old-boy - Early Signs of Hearing Impairment in a 1-Year-Old Girl: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-1-year-old-girl - Early Signs of Hearing Impairment in an 18-to-24-Month-Old: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-18-to-24-month-old ### Explore causes & influences - Are Boys More Likely to Have Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-boys-more-likely-to-have-hearing-impairment - Are girls more likely to have hearing impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-girls-more-likely-to-have-hearing-impairment - What causes hearing impairment in young children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-causes-hearing-impairment-in-young-children - Early Intervention for Hearing Impairment: Advancing Child Rights and the SDGs: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-early-intervention-for-hearing-impairment-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs - Contributing Factors for Hearing Impairment in Early Childhood: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-hearing-impairment-in-early-childhood - Cost-effectiveness of early therapy for hearing impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-hearing-impairment-in-young-children - Hearing Impairment in young children: India's prevalence and public-health burden: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-hearing-impairment-among-young-children-in-india ### Understand assessment - How AbilityScore Tracks Progress in a Child with Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-abilityscore-track-progress-in-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - How Hearing Impairment Is Assessed in a Young Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-hearing-impairment-assessed-in-a-young-child - What does an AbilityScore of 0–100 mean for a child with Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What does an AbilityScore of 100–200 mean for a child with Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - AbilityScore 200–300 for a child with Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What an AbilityScore of 300–400 Means for Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What an AbilityScore of 400–500 Means for Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What does an AbilityScore of 500–600 mean for a child with Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What an AbilityScore® of 600–700 Means for a Child with Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What does an AbilityScore of 700–800 mean for a child with Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What does an AbilityScore of 800–900 mean for a child with Hearing Impairment?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - What an AbilityScore of 900–1000 Means in Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-mean-for-a-child-with-hearing-impairment ### Explore therapy & support - Can a child with hearing impairment attend a mainstream school?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-hearing-impairment-attend-a-mainstream-school - Hearing Impairment and Mainstream Schooling: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-hearing-impairment-attend-a-regular-school - Can a child with hearing impairment live independently?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-a-child-with-hearing-impairment-grow-up-to-live-independently - How to Support Sensory Development with Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-we-support-sensory-development-in-a-child-with-hearing-impairment - How Hearing Impairment Is Diagnosed in a Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-hearing-impairment-diagnosed-in-a-child - How Hearing Impairment Is Supported Through Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-hearing-impairment-supported-through-therapy - Hearing Impairment AbilityScore 0–100 — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-hearing-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-what-should-we-do-next - AbilityScore 100–200 with Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-hearing-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-what-should-we-do-next - AbilityScore 200–300 with Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-hearing-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-what-should-we-do-next - AbilityScore 300–400 with Hearing Impairment: What to Do Next: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-hearing-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-what-should-we-do-next - AbilityScore 400–500 with Hearing Impairment — Next Steps: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-hearing-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-what-should-we-do-next - AbilityScore 500–600 with Hearing Impairment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-hearing-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-what-should-we-do-next