Menu
Hearing First
Person Icon
Hearing First Logo
Hearing First
  • Family Community
  • Professional Community
  • User
  • Site
  • Search
  • User
  • Getting Started
  • Listening & Spoken Language
    • Listening & Spoken Language
    • Overview
    • What is LSL?
    • What LSL Takes
    • The Science of LSL
    • Building Your Support Team
      • Building Your Support Team
      • Overview
      • Meet the Early Intervention Professionals
      • What to Look for in an LSL Professional
      • The Parent-Professional Partnership
      • Finding LSL Services in Your Area
      • Covering the Cost of LSL
  • Hearing Evaluation & Technology
    • Hearing Evaluation & Technology
    • Overview
    • Newborn Hearing Screening
    • Hearing Evaluation and Diagnosis
    • Hearing Technology
    • Maximizing Technology
      • Maximizing Technology
      • Overview
      • Baby
      • Toddler
      • Preschooler
      • School-Age
  • What To Do
    • What To Do
    • Overview
    • LSL in Daily Life
    • LSL Strategies & Techniques
      • LSL Strategies & Techniques
      • Overview
      • Be a Director
      • Be a Bird Dog
      • Hear It Before They See It
      • Make Listening Easier
      • Play-By-Play
      • It's Your Turn
      • Create a Listening Sandwich
      • Keep Them on Their Toes
      • Beyond the Here and Now
      • It's All About Me
      • Help Me But Don't Tell Me
      • What Did You Hear?
    • LTL Sounds and Phrases
    • Road to Literacy
      • Road to Literacy
      • Overview
      • Reading Aloud
      • Singing & Rhyming
      • Experience Books
    • New Experiences
      • New Experiences
      • Overview
      • Baby
      • Toddler
      • Preschooler
      • School-Age
  • Celebrate LSL
    • Celebrate LSL
    • Overview
    • LSL Life
      • LSL Life
      • Overview
      • Genesis
      • Sophie
      • Ethan
      • Cici
      • Kamen
      • Corlena
      • Maggie
      • Zach
      • Dacie & Carlie
      • Morgan & Katie
      • Maya
      • Fletcher
    • Powering Potential Podcast
    • Inspiring Stories
    • The Listening Project
  • Learn & Connect
    • Learn & Connect
    • Overview
    • Families
    • Professionals
    • Learning Experiences
    • Course Catalog
    • Resources
    • Articles
    • Starts Hear Campaign
Learn & Connect Articles

Why the Ling Six Sound Test Matters (and What It Can Tell You)

Article | 3 min read
LSL in Your Inbox

Stay current with the latest LSL news

Subscribe Now

Hearing clear sounding speech is how a baby learns to talk. And little ones with hearing loss learn to talk the same way thanks to their hearing devices! But as a parent, you have to make sure those devices are working properly and your baby can hear all those important sounds of speech. 

Since your little one can’t yet tell you if their devices are on and working, there are ways you can check! This listening check is known as the Ling Six Sounds Test. 

It’s a simple and effective way to use typical speech sounds — as in the sounds we all make everyday when we talk — to check that your child’s brain is hearing each one. Those sounds become words, those words become information, and that information becomes knowledge! This test checks that your child’s hearing devices are providing the correct level of loudness so your child hears every sound clearly. 

What are the six sounds exactly? They cover the range of speech from low frequencies such as ‘m’ and ‘oo’ to high frequencies such ‘sh’ and ‘s’ sounds. Because the test is done with your child’s hearing devices on it confirms all the components from the microphone of the hearing device to the auditory areas of the brain are working. 

List of Ling Six Sounds: /m/ as in me, /ah/ as in hot, /oo/ as in boot, /ee/ as in feet, /sh/ as in shoe, /s/ as in sun

Learn more about how to do this easy check in this article

So why should you do this test regularly? The main reason to do this test is because you’ll be able to tell right away if your child isn’t hearing all these important sounds of speech. Whether their device needs adjusting or their hearing loss has progressed, you can catch it early with the Ling Six Sounds Test. And as we know, every minute of listening counts! So, you want to find out if something is wrong as soon as you can. It may help alert you if your child has middle ear fluid. If you notice your child isn’t responding to the six sounds the way they usually do, call your pediatric audiologist right away. 

Find out more about middle ear fluid and ear infections here

Think about keeping a little notebook with you or hitting record on your phone when you do the Ling Six Sound Test. Write down what you notice about your child’s responses. That makes it easier for you to see a pattern or a change in their responses to your voice.

While this is a great start to the day, as a parent of a child with hearing loss, you have a lot going on! There may be days you don’t do the test, but adding it to your routine creates good habits. Try your best to aim for the start of every day so your child is hearing their best. If you haven’t done the test in a while and you notice your child isn’t responding to you, use the Ling Six Sounds Test. Knowing which sounds they are and aren’t responding to can give you some insight before you call your pediatric audiologist. 

Remember, this test is supposed to be a quick and easy start to the day. Less than 2 minutes to make sure your child can hear all the sounds of speech so they don’t miss a moment of listening and learning! 

Related Resources

Why the Ling Six Sound Test Matters (and What It Can Tell You)

Hearing clear sounding speech is how a baby learns to talk. And little ones with hearing loss learn to...

Article 3 min read
Hearing First Announces Departure of Dr. Teresa Zwolan, Director of Audiology

Dr. Zwolan will be accepting a new role at Cochlear Americas PHILADELPHIA, October 11, 2022 – Hearing...

Article 2 min read
Fire and Emergency Safety Tips for Kids with Hearing Loss

Are you and your family prepared for an emergency at home? Fire and home safety alert devices are important...

Article 3 min read
Keep Them on Their Toes with the Sabotage Strategy

Did You Know? Babies and toddlers laugh at the most unpredictable spontaneous things. Shrieks of joy...

Article 3 min read
Why You CAN’T Get OTC Hearing Aids For Kids

Just like every child is unique, so is every child’s hearing. That’s one of the reasons you can’t turn...

Article 4 min read
An LSL Strategy to Get Started

As a new listener, your child doesn't know what sound is yet or what's important to listen to. That’s...

Article 2 min read
The Best Way to Grow Your Baby's Brain: It's Your Turn!

Did You Know? Harvard researchers use the phrase “serve and return” to describe the back and forth...

Article 2 min read

Connect with parents who have been down this path before.

Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. Thousands of parents have been in your shoes. Find other parents who can share from experience, offer encouragement, and help your family reach your LSL goals.

Learn More

Sign In or Register

In order to save content, you need an account. Set up is quick and easy! If you're already a member - sign in here.

Register as a Professional Register as a Family Member
Hearing First Logo
  • About Hearing First
  • Starts Hear
  • Family Support Community
  • Professional Learning Community
  • Learning Experiences
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Celebrate LSL
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
©2023 Hearing First, LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Using Hearing First Resources Code of Conduct