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 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. 

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!