The Well Child/Tamariki Ora Health Book, which is given to every mother when her baby is born, includes the 'can your baby hear' checklist: 

What is your baby doing at six weeks?

When there is a sudden loud noise, do they...

• jump or blink?
• stir in their sleep?
• stop sucking for a moment?
• look up from sucking?
• cry?

At three months, do they...

• blink or cry when there is a sudden noise?
• stop crying or sucking when you talk?
• wake or stir to loud sounds?
• coo or smile when you talk?
• turn their eyes toward voices?
• seem to like a musical toy?
• stop moving when there is a new toy?
• seem to know your voice?

At five months, do they...

• turn towards a sound or someone speaking?
• cry when there is a sudden noise?
• like music?
• make lots of different babbling sounds?

At nine months, do they...

• respond to their own name?
• look around to find new sounds - even quiet ones?
• understand "no" and "bye-bye"?
• listen when people talk?
• like copying sounds?
• use babbling that sounds like real speech?
• try to talk back when you talk?

At 15 months, do they...

• point to people and things they know when asked to?
• copy or repeat simple words or sounds?
• try to talk?
• understand things like "come here"?
• use their voice to get attendtion?
• say two or three words?
• listen when people talk?

At two years, do they...

• do two things when asked, like "get the ball and bring it here"?
• repeat what you say?
• know lots of words?
• like being read to?
• point to a picture when asked, eg "show me the baby"?
• use the names of peoples and things they know?
• have a name for themselves?
• say simple sentences like "milk all gone"?

At three years, do they...

• understand most words?
• find you when you call from another room?
• sometimes use whole sentences?
• use words like "go", "me", "in", "big"?
• tell a story, rhyme or song?
• say how they feel?
• remember and talk about things that have happened?
• count to 3?
• speak clearly so that everyone can understand?
• ask lots of "why" and "what" questions?

At five years, do they...

• tell a long, clear story about things they have done?
• speak well, with only a few sounds wrong, like "r" or "s"?
• know what things are for (like hat, apple or plate)?
• like books and being read to?
• understand most of what you say?

Even if your baby passed the newborn hearing screen, if you have any concerns about the way your child listens or responds, it is important to discuss this with your Lead Maternity Carer, GP, Well Child Provider or Early Childhood teacher.