Questions & Answers

The ear gradually develops over time, 8 weeks is just when the outside part of the ear starts forming, over the next 8 weeks for the rest of the functioning parts to start being formed. When they say 16 weeks that is when they are able to start hearing things like voices internally like knicole said, 24 weeks is when hearing is complete and the brain is completely wired so they are able to start learning about what they are hearing, ie hearing music. I will say that they can hear some outside things before 24 weeks, around 22 weeks I could feel my baby startle when a loud unexpected noise happened (my son yelling LOL).

They can hear "your inside noises" early second trimester and then vibrations outside the womb, but they can't actually hear voices until about 26 weeks

starts at about 16 wks

Though the ear does develop at 8 weeks and it can hear though I am thinking it can hear the major organs of your body. What else is confusing is each fetal development site and info reports different times a fetus can hear, like on national geographic's in the womb they say 24 weeks. While on other websites it says 18 weeks and others 16 weeks. Some say 14 weeks..but i have read the ears begin to form at 8 weeks and are completely formed inside and out by week 24. lol I probably just made this even more confusing! ;)

I have heard that its usually the 24th week where the baby hears outside the womb so music from the outside environment etc. but I do know they can hear YOUR voice and other parts of your bodily functions: you heart beat, digestions etc a lot earlier at or around 16 weeks. :)