Yes, newborns can hear! In fact, hearing is fully developed in newborns. They can startle in response to loud noises, pay attention to their mother's voice, and even briefly stop moving when sound at a conversational level begins. It seems newborns prefer a higher-pitched voice, like their mother's, over lower-pitched voices, like those of males.
Newborns can even hear sounds in the womb! They are exposed to their mother's heartbeat, the gurgles of her digestive system, and even her voice.
While newborns can hear, their auditory system is still developing and they might not hear all sounds perfectly. The middle ear of a newborn is full of fluid, which can affect their ability to hear certain frequencies.
All infants should be screened for hearing loss no later than 1 month of age. Babies who do not pass the hearing test should see a specialist.
