How babies hear
Copy D Hearing is the first sense to develop in an embryo and it has an impact on your baby’s development. How do unborn babies perceive sounds? How does a baby’s hearing develop?
Gateway to the world
From the 23. The embryo's ear picks up sounds from the first week of pregnancy. Above all, the music of the womb: Heartbeat, sounds of the intestines, voice. It can also hear noises from outside – your baby's ear is its gateway to the world. The abdominal wall, amniotic fluid and uterus provide sound insulation: The noise from outside is 20 to 30 decibels quieter, which is equivalent to a whisper.
How does a baby’s hearing develop?
A newborn responds to sounds that he knows, in the beginning especially his mother’s voice, but also lullabies that you sing regularly or music you listen to frequently.
At 3 months, the part of your baby’s brain (temporal lobe) that supports hearing, among other things, becomes more active and more receptive. If your baby hears your voice now he will turn directly to you and answer with a gurgling sound.
At 4 months your baby will respond enthusiastically to sounds and even smile when he hears your voice. He will try to copy you by saying consonants such as “B” or “M”.
At 6 or 7 months your baby will be able to detect where certain noises are coming from and will turn in that direction.
With approx. At around 12 months he will recognise his favourite songs and try to sing along.
How does music affect your baby?
Studies show that newborn babies clearly recognise tunes they heard in the womb. This is particularly true of songs sung by the mother. This is because the unborn child perceives vibrations that have a calming effect.
There is no scientific evidence documenting the number of endorphins that hearing music releases in your baby and the extent to which music has a positive impact, but that’s not particularly important. As a rule, what makes the mum happy is good for baby, too.
One exception to this is excessively loud music. Generally speaking, The general rule is, the louder the noise, the stronger the baby’s reaction. In addition, high frequencies lead to an increased heart rate. This means that concerts and discos should be attended in moderation during pregnancy.
How can you tell whether a baby has hearing problems?
Babies aren’t usually woken by the doorbell or barking dogs because they need their sleep. However, when your child is awake and alert, she should react to sudden loud noises.
Her hearing will be tested straight after birth. If you are worried about your baby’s hearing despite positive test results, you can call the medical hotline ((Link to 5.2.0)) or your paediatrician at any time.
