**Background**. Hearing impairments (HIs) that progress or have a later onset may have specific influence on language and cognitive development, but are complex to detect during the routine primary care visits. The detection can be facilitated by a parental questionnaire that draws a specific attention to auditory skills development. **Methods**. From 2013 to 2018, 297 children (1-to-36-month-old) received a Questionnaire on hearing and communication abilities during their first comprehensive audiological evaluation at Otorhinolaryngology and Audiology department of the Institute for Maternal and Child Health Burlo-Garofolo in Trieste. We analyzed the ability of the questionnaire to correctly identify the presence of a HI and measured the influence of children’s age and HI type or degree on questionnaire sensitivity. **Results**. Parents are reliable observers of infants’ non-typical auditory behavior and can recognize the decrease in age-appropriate auditory skills when infants are older than 6 months. Children with HI in our sample had a significant decrease in reported auditory skills, but did not differ from normally hearing (NH) children in their communicative and language skills. Recognition of atypical auditory behavior is successful both in children with permanent sensorineural and temporary conductive HI. **Conclusions**. Given that HIs affects overall child development, it is important to take into consideration parental concerns during primary care health visits. A targeted questionnaire on age-related auditory abilities can complement existing screening procedures and contribute to the early recognition and timely intervention of atypical auditory behaviors that progress or arise in early childhood.