Neurology/Neurosurgery Resident Purdue University Lafayette, IN, United States
Abstract:
Background: Prolonged exposure to loud noises has been shown to affect hearing acuity in dogs. Affordable, adjustable, and easy-to-fit hearing protection devices (HPD) are needed for dogs. Hypothesis/
Objectives: Determine hearing threshold in the same population of dogs without and while wearing novel HPD when frequency of sound is held constant and decibel levels are incrementally decreased. Animals: 22 healthy shelter dogs were recruited over a 4-month period.
Methods: Prospective study. Healthy dogs between the ages of 4 months and 69 months were anesthetized for routine surgical alteration. Hearing thresholds (AS and AD) were determined using Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) and over the ear headphones (OTEH) in the same population of dogs prior to and while wearing a novel HPD, which fits over the ears and fastens into place.
Results: Median hearing thresholds for dogs without the HPD, were 40 dB AS (range 5-70 dB) and 50 dB AD (range 20-70 dB). All dogs with the novel HPD in place had hearing thresholds greater than 70 dB, except one dog whose threshold was 65 dB AD (P< 0.0001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The novel HPD effectively raised hearing thresholds in dogs, blocking sound of at least 65 dB in all dogs. This HPD may help preserve hearing acuity in dogs exposed to loud noises.
