The brain begins to learn how to process sounds in utero. The child is not born with the ability to process a full range of tones well, as a matter of fact, many people never learn to process a full range of tones well. The brain must learn to process these tones, particularly the tones that are within the language range. A good example of tonal processing is when learning to speak a different language. If the individual has not learned to hear those tones they will not be able to articulate those tones causing extreme difficulty speaking the new language.
Many children do have difficulty processing tones.
If the quality of auditory input is disrupted or interfered with auditory tonal processing development will be delayed or permanently impaired, unless there is specific and effective therapeutic intervention. The child who experiences either or both of these situations isn t giving the brain consistent auditory input. Hamper understanding of spoken language. If your child s language is delayed or if there is some question about their hearing I highly recommend having their hearing checked. Tests are either subjective or objective.