Given below is a list of communicative behaviour patterns that the child must have in the various periods of his growth. If your child does not have all or some of the behaviour patterns listed in relation to his age, we recommend promptly seeing a children's audiology centre.

Normal behaviour at 3 months

• He becomes frightened or stops moving with sudden noise (a door slamming, a dog barking, shouting)
• He wakes up crying when someone speaks or in case of a sudden noise
• He stops or hastens or slows feeding in case of a sudden noise
• He recognizes and is calmed by your voice
• The alternation of loud and soft sounds attracts his attention (e.g. he opens wide or half-closes his eyes)

• He usually stops crying when mother calls him
• He looks in the direction of the person speaking and calling him
• Familiar sounds like the clinking of a spoon in the plate makes him respond as though he knows it is time to eat
• He likes musical games.

• He knows the meaning "no", "hello", "let's go"
• He uses his voice to attract attention
• He pays attention to music and songs
• He turns around if someone calls him or if a noise comes from behind (the noise does not have to be loud)
• He recognizes his name and that of members of the family, even if they are not present
• He understands if the voice of a person is friendly
• He looks in the direction of a sound, a voice or the person calling him
• He produces many new sounds compared with two months ago.

• He recognizes the names of his toys
• He uses his voice to attract the attention of those present
• He understands the meaning of simple questions
• He understands the meaning of simple requests (put out your hand, open your mouth)
• He looks around when there are new noises
• He responds when asked
• He is attracted by the sound of the phone ringing and the door-bell.
• He can identify people and parts of the body
• He dances when there is music
• He locates sounds.

• He can point to objects when named
• He carries out simple requests
• He likes music, the radio, stereo, television
• He recognizes sounds
• He recognizes and can indicate parts of the body
• He answers yes or no to questions regarding familiar events
• He happily listens to stories in a group
• He responds when called from another room
• He wants to communicate, and express his interests, needs and experiences
• He gets angry if adults cannot understand him.

• He asks questions
• He is starting to understand the meaning of inside, outside, over, under
• He answers simple questions
• He listens to stories on tape or CD
• He pays attention to spoken danger warnings
• He talks and listens on the phone

(*) The present questionnaire was prepared by Dr Burdo of the Children's Audiology Centre of Varese