{"h1":"When to worry about hearing in an 18–24-month-old","faq":[{"a":"Yes. A newborn screen is reassuring but not a lifetime guarantee. Hearing can change after birth, often from frequent ear infections or fluid behind the eardrum. If you have a concern now, a fresh hearing test is always reasonable.","q":"My baby passed the newborn hearing screen — can hearing still be a problem now?"},{"a":"Inconsistent responses can be normal toddler selective attention, but they can also signal mild or fluctuating hearing loss. If the pattern persists alongside few words, it's worth a simple check to be sure.","q":"My toddler responds sometimes but not always — is that a worry?"},{"a":"No. Hearing tests for toddlers are painless, play-based and quick. The clinician uses gentle sounds and watches your child's responses — many little ones find it rather fun.","q":"Will a hearing test hurt my child?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","title":"When should I worry about hearing in my 18–24-month-old?","entity":{"key":"hearing","kind":"condition","name":"Hearing Impairment","slug":"hearing-impairment"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent / Family","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler-18-24","value":"toddler-18-24"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Sensory","value":"sensory"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Concern","value":"concern"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Speech-Therapy","value":"speech-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"},{"kind":"condition","label":"Hearing Impairment","value":"hearing"},{"kind":"language","label":"English","value":"en"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities","value":"10"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being","value":"3"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"ASHA / PHC / Frontline","value":"asha_phc"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor / Pediatrician","value":"doctor"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-3-year-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","title":"When should I worry that my 3-year-old might have Hearing Impairment?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-6-to-9-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","title":"When should I worry about hearing impairment at 6–9 months?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-12-to-18-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","title":"When should I worry about hearing impairment at 12-18 months?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-2-year-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","title":"When should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Hearing Impairment?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-hearing-impairment-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Hearing Impairment in an 18-to-24-Month-Old"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-that-my-3-to-6-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","title":"When to worry about hearing impairment at 3–6 months"}],"summary":"By 18–24 months a child should turn to your voice, respond to their name and use a few growing words. If your toddler misses everyday sounds, follows only gestures, or has very few words, ask for a hearing check — a fresh test is always reasonable, even after a newborn screen. Only a clinician can confirm anything.","answer_md":"*If your little one isn't turning to your voice or picking up words the way you hoped, that worry deserves a clear, kind answer — and a simple next step.*\n\n## In short\nBy 18–24 months, a child should respond to their name, follow simple spoken instructions, turn towards familiar sounds, and use a small but growing set of words. Worth checking soon if your toddler:\n\n- **Doesn't turn** to your voice or to everyday sounds (the doorbell, a dog, the TV)\n- **Has very few or no words**, or has stopped using words they once had\n- **Doesn't follow simple instructions** like \"give me the cup\" without gestures\n- **Watches your face intently** for cues but seems to miss sound itself\n- **Speaks unusually loudly** or seems unbothered by loud noises\n\nWorry is a reason to check — not a diagnosis. Hearing can change after a newborn screen (frequent ear infections are a common cause), so a fresh test is always reasonable.\n\n## The science, briefly\nHearing is the foundation of spoken language — the first two years are when the brain's listening pathways are most rapidly wired. Even mild or fluctuating hearing loss in this window can quietly delay words and understanding. This is why the CDC and IAP urge a hearing check whenever a parent has a concern, regardless of an earlier newborn screen. Identified early, outcomes are excellent: a simple, painless hearing test confirms what is happening, and support — when needed — works best when it starts young.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nNo online form or article can diagnose [hearing impairment](https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/hearing-impairment) — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Our team checks hearing first, then maps your child's listening and language against [their own baseline](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), and where helpful pairs it with [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) — so you leave with clarity and a plan, not a label.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11; CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early.; Indian Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org).\n\n**Next step —** The kindest thing to do with worry is to check. [Book a hearing and language check](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) with a Pinnacle clinician.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/when-should-i-worry-that-my-18-to-24-month-old-might-have-hearing-impairment-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Hearing Worries in 18–24-Month-Olds","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Play a gentle listening game: from behind your child, softly call their name or shake a rattle to one side, then the other. A consistent turn towards the sound is a lovely sign their hearing and attention are linking up.","published_at":"2026-06-10T09:06:00.101053+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-hearing-impairment-affect-a-child-s-daily-life","title":"How Hearing Impairment Affects a Child's Daily Life","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-hearing-impairment-considered-a-disability","title":"Is Hearing Impairment considered a disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-hearing-impairment-genetic-or-hereditary","title":"Is Hearing Impairment Genetic or Hereditary?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-common-myths-about-hearing-impairment","title":"What are common myths about Hearing Impairment?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-hearing-impairment","title":"Types and Levels of Hearing Impairment","reason":"Same 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children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-early-intervention-for-hearing-impairment-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs","title":"Early Intervention for Hearing Impairment: Advancing Child Rights and the SDGs","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-hearing-impairment-in-early-childhood","title":"Contributing Factors for Hearing Impairment in Early Childhood","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-hearing-impairment-in-young-children","title":"Cost-effectiveness of early therapy for hearing impairment","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-hearing-impairment-among-young-children-in-india","title":"Hearing Impairment in young children: India's prevalence and public-health burden","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore causes & 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ear-pulling, or relies entirely on watching your face to understand you.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early."},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)"},{"url":"https://icd.who.int/en","label":"WHO ICD-11"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T09:06:00.101053+00:00","meta_description":"Wondering if your 18–24-month-old has a hearing problem? Plain signs to watch, the science, and the simple next step — a clinician-led hearing check.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}