Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hearing test results show changes in older dogs' ears
By Strain, G M et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2016·Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in geriatric dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of older dogs, averaging about 12 years old, showed signs of hearing loss when tested for specific sound responses. The tests revealed that these geriatric dogs had lower responses to higher frequency sounds compared to younger dogs, indicating damage to the tiny hair cells in their ears that help with hearing. This suggests that age-related hearing loss can start earlier than previously thought. The findings highlight the importance of testing for hearing issues in older dogs, as it can help identify and manage their hearing problems effectively.
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Abstract
Recordings of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were taken from 28 geriatric dogs aged 12.2 ± 2.2 years and 15 control dogs aged 5.9 ± 3.0 years (mean ± standard deviation) to demonstrate frequency-specific changes in cochlear responses. Recordings were performed for primary frequencies of 2-12 kHz in 2 kHz increments. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) recordings were also made from geriatric dogs for comparison with DPOAE responses. Significant decreases in DPOAE response amplitudes were observed at frequencies of 6-12 kHz in geriatric dogs compared to control dogs, reflecting loss of cochlear outer hair cells along the length of the cochlea. Significant decreases in response amplitudes were not seen at frequencies of 2 or 4 kHz. Decreases in BAER response amplitudes subjectively paralleled the depressed DPOAE amplitudes. No significant linear regression relationships were found for DPOAE response amplitude vs. age despite the progressive nature of age-related hearing loss. The reductions in response at all frequencies starting at the age where dogs are considered geriatric indicate that age-related hearing loss begins earlier in the life span. DPOAE recordings provide a means to assess cochlear function across different portions of the auditory spectrum for assessing hearing loss associated with aging, and potentially for losses from other causes of decreased auditory function.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27687934/