Hearing aids for dogs??
(Keef Whiteman BA, English & Psychology, student Canine Behaviourist Advisor & PA to Scotty Valadao)

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For over a century, humans with hearing loss have used electronic hearing aids. But what about your precious pooch?  Are dog hearing aids available, and will they improve your pet’s quality of life?

 What are they and what do hearing aids do?
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  • These devices amplify the sound entering the ear canal thus restoring the ability to hear, in dogs that are partially deaf.

    Hearing aids are seldom used in dogs but was first used In the late 1980s by Dr. Patricia Luttgen who created the first prototype by attaching a human hearing aid to a dog’s collar.

    FETCHLAB is the only place in the world that currently fits official dog hearing aids. Currently, the devices are still in their testing phase, as they are complicated to produce and can be prohibitively expensive to buy. Despite this, the FETCHLAB team receives weekly inquiries from loving pet owners interested in improving their dog’s hearing which shows that there is a market.
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    FETCHLAB is working towards releasing more affordable dog hearing aids in the near future. “The aim is to create hearing aids like some of the off-the-shelf human ones. We can probably get the price down to hundreds of dollars versus thousands,” Dr. Scheifele says.

    Which dogs are suitable/unsuitable for hearing aids?
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  • Dogs with no residual hearing function as those cases of complete hearing loss with age, congenital hearing loss, or ototoxicity, are not suitable since no amount of amplification will make the sound loud enough that the ear can hear it.

  • Dogs that still have moderate functioning of the ear are suitable as long as they can tolerate wearing the earpieces.
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  • It has been found that small breed dogs tend to tolerate the ear pieces associated with hearing aids better than the large breeds but it’s important to assess each dog individually as even within breeds individuals do still have their own personalities.

    Are there ways in which we can limit hearing loss as our dogs age?

  • Age related and congenital causes of hearing loss cannot be prevented, however there are certain things one can do when hearing loss is acquired due to:

  • Toxins – make sure that your dog does not have access to any toxic materials and not just ototoxic (when certain medications or chemicals harm the inner ear, leading to hearing loss or balance problems).

  • Loud noises- make sure that dogs used for police work or hunting who are in noisy environments have ear protection.

         Here are some signs to watch for:

  • Your dog starts ignoring your commands or acting disobediently out of the blue.

  • Your dog gets jumpy and startled easily.

  • No reaction to common sounds like knocking or the doorbell.

  • Excessive barking.

  • Your dog shakes or tilts its head a lot.

  • Sleeping more than usual.

         Considerations

  • Involve your vet in the whole process as proper diagnostics and tests need to be done.

  • You can then discuss the best way forward.

  • Getting your dog acclimated to wearing hearing aids requires a lot of patience and effort, and not all dogs will adjust well to them.

  • A dog wearing hearing aids will have to adjust to noises sounding different (more electronic) as well.

  • You’ll need lots of patience to get your dog used to the hearing aid’s presence over time. 

  • The sense of smell is the most powerful sense that your pooch has, as such slow sniffing walks are really beneficial for all dogs, including those with hearing disabilities.

                                                                       Conclusion
 
The connection you have with your dog does not have to worsen because of its hearing disability. Teach your dog new communication skills by teaching them to respond to hand signals, and touch. Your dog can still have an excellent quality of life, and if you’re uncertain about how to proceed, consider consulting a canine behaviourist.

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