Back to Stanford SHQ
0–5 monthsGross Motor (physical culture)

turns towards the direction of a sound

Observe whether the child: turns towards the direction of a sound

What it looks like

Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.

Emerging

Just starting

Your child is starting to notice sounds, but turning towards the direction of a sound may be inconsistent, delayed, or easier to see when the room is quiet.

What you might see

  • Stills, blinks, or widens eyes after a sound but does not always turn toward it.
  • Turns toward sound only sometimes, especially in a quiet room.

Expected

On track

Your child turns towards the direction of a sound, moving their head, eyes, or attention toward where the sound came from.

What you might see

  • Turns head or eyes toward a sound made to one side.
  • Shifts attention toward a familiar voice or simple sound.
  • Responds more clearly when awake and alert.

Exceeding

Going further

Your child turns towards sounds in different everyday settings and may quickly look or orient toward familiar voices or new sounds without being prompted.

What you might see

  • Turns toward sounds from different directions during daily routines.
  • Orients quickly toward familiar voices or new sounds without repeated calling.

Try this at home

Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.

  • When your child is awake and calm, make a soft sound from one side and notice whether they turn toward it.

  • Call your child's name or speak from slightly off to the side and watch their eyes or head.

  • During quiet play, notice whether your child turns toward everyday sounds, such as a voice or gentle rattle.

Where this comes from

The dataset source and any supporting developmental research.

Dataset source

  • Stenhaug, B., Ram, N., & Frank, M. C. (2021). The Stanford SHQ: A measure of early developmental milestones.

    This item follows the SHQ prompt asking whether the child turns towards the direction of a sound.

Developmental research

  • Bayley, N., & Aylward, G. P. (2019). Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Fourth Edition.

    Infant developmental assessment commonly includes orienting to voices and sounds as part of early sensory, attention, and motor response development.