Dog hearing clinic opens at Ohio university
I was very excited to see this story online this morning. As I've mentioned before, deafness can be a problem in my breed, English Setters, and in Dalmatians, but it also occurs in other breeds and in mixed breed dogs. A dog who is uni-laterally deaf (deaf in one ear) can live a mostly normal life as a wonderful pet, but if you have a dog who is deaf in both ears it will take a lot more dedication on the part of an owner to overcome his difficulties and help him lead a good quality life. A clinic like this one, where they can test to see if a dog is deaf, can take a lot of the guesswork out of wondering if your dog is deaf or if he has some other problem.
If your dog is nonresponsive to your commands — if he seems to ignore you, if he doesn't react to sounds that you and others hear, if he doesn't even come for the rattling of his supper dish — you may want to consider having his hearing tested. A bilaterally deaf dog needs some special attention because he doesn't have some of the coping abilities that other dogs have. He won't be able to hear a car headed his way, or another dog barking at him. He can become a wonderful pet, but it helps to know what you're dealing with. Deaf dogs can learn hand signals and "read" them like other dogs know your voice. So, if you have a deaf dog, or one that you suspect may be deaf, don't despair. There are lots of things you can do to help the situation and help your dog live a great life. But having his hearing tested is the best place to start to make sure what the problem is.
I had Blue tested recently at the University of Tennessee and he passed with flying colors. The test only takes a few minutes and it's very easy for the tester to perform. The vet puts little electrodes near the dog's ears and sends a signal to the dog's brain. He watches the results on a monitor to see if the brainstem is receiving the signals. This is the BAER test (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response). A tester with the right equipment — such as at the clinic described below — can perform it on a dog at just about any age over a few weeks old. Some vets prefer to have puppies/dogs sedated, but they can also be wide awake for the test.
Whether you have a purebred or a mixed breed, deafness is a possibility, either through genetics, disease or injury. If you think your dog may have some degree of deafness, seek out a vet who can test your dog and find out if your suspicions are correct. If your dog's hearing is normal you can rule out deafness and see if there is some other problem. And, if you discover that your dog is uni- or bilaterally deaf, you can help him deal with it.
From the Dallas Morning News.
Dog hearing clinic opens at Ohio university
05:17 PM CDT on Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Associated Press
CINCINNATI – Sally Disney was worried because her dog Ginger was less responsive. Disney didn't know where to go for help until she heard about a new audiology clinic – one that provides hearing tests for dogs.
After having Ginger examined at the Bioacoustics and Canine Audiology Clinic at the University of Cincinnati, Disney now knows that her Shetland sheepdog's lack of responsiveness is caused by hearing loss and can work on ways to communicate better with her.
The clinic provides in-depth hearing testing for dogs while also researching ways to improve the diagnosis and non-medical treatment of their hearing problems. It also allows students planning to work in human audiology to train in techniques and equipment similar to those used for people.
"We also hope this clinic will lead to improved diagnostic techniques and treatment devices such as less expensive and more practical hearing aids for dogs that hopefully may help people eventually," said clinic director Peter Scheifele.
While some specialty veterinary clinics and veterinary schools screen for deafness, audiologists say the UC clinic in an academic health center geared to human needs is unusual.
UC's clinic is staffed by a veterinarian, audiologists, radiologists, a sonographer who does ultrasound tests, an animal trainer and others in animal science and bioacoustics, the science involving animal hearing and communication.
Staff members use tests including one that measures the timing of electrical waves from the brainstem in response to clicks and tone bursts played into the ear. Another one measures the inner ear's echo response to tones. If those don't pinpoint the problem, MRIs and ultrasound tests also can be done. The clinic also tries to determine the frequencies dogs can hear and the nature of the deafness.
"This way of using animals is truly pioneer work in audiology," said Jay Singer, chairman of the department of communicative disorders for the University of Rhode Island. "It's an exciting approach that provides tremendous training opportunities."
Scheifele also hopes the clinic will spur similar ones around the country and help establish veterinary audiology as a viable vocation.
"I would like to see veterinary audiologists working with veterinarians the way human audiologists work with ear-nose-and-throat doctors," Scheifele said.
Veterinarians welcome the idea of more hearing clinics.
"I don't have enough day-to-day need for that kind of expensive equipment in my practice, but having audiology clinics centrally located where we could refer dogs would be excellent," said veterinarian Pamela Mills Cone, who operates the Meadow Hill Veterinary Shoppe in Lebanon, Conn.
More of these clinics also could help raise the awareness of deafness and hearing problems in dogs, said Gary Beard, assistant dean for outreach at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Congenital deafness – deafness occurring at or near birth – has been reported in more than 80 breeds of dogs, according to George Strain, a professor of neuroscience at Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Hearing loss in dogs can result from inherited genetic defects and from causes such as aging, drug toxicity, noise, infection and trauma.
Scheifele said studies show one of every five Dalmatians in the United States is born deaf, and dog breeders have become more aware of the genetic deafness potential. Breeders already have been contacting the clinic, and Scheifele also expects to test dogs servicing disabled people, police and the military.
He also wants to help pets and owners with the communication problems resulting from hearing loss.
"Hand signals for various commands, flashing yard lights when you want the dog to come in and actions like stomping your feet to create vibrations the dog can feel are some methods you can use," said Scheifele, who uses American Sign Language to communicate with Belle, his 4-year-old Australian shepherd.
The average cost for testing is about $75. The veterinarian has the owner give the dog a mild, oral sedative to prevent too much movement during testing. Electrodes are placed on their heads and small probes are inserted in the ears with results read by computer.
"Ginger was just fine," said Disney, who held Ginger's paw and petted her during the test.
Disney and her husband Dave rescued Ginger and don't know if something in her early years might have led to hearing loss, but are glad they had their Sheltie tested.
"Now that we know she has severe hearing loss in one ear and milder loss in the other, and some of the levels of sounds she hears, we can do more to keep her safe and use more signs to communicate," said Disney. "It's what you would do to help someone in your family, and Ginger is definitely family."
