How to Test Your Puppy’s Hearing: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

Puppies are often playful and rambunctious, but when they are ignoring you, you may start to wonder if they can hear you at all. There are a few things you can try at home, but if you believe your pup can't hear, take her to the vet for a hearing test. So, at what age do puppies start hearing? When can you start testing their hearing?

Detecting hearing loss in puppies is much more difficult, as the rambunctious pups enjoy exploring their new world and haven't yet learned to listen to you rather than their mother and littermates. You may notice that his ears don't move in the direction of the sound and that he doesn't react when you speak to him in an excited voice or make noise with a toy.

Home tests for hearing loss

If you still aren't sure if your pup has hearing loss based on the symptoms, you can try a couple of home tests. These are not medical tests and won't give you a solid diagnosis, so be sure to make an appointment with your vet to confirm the hearing loss.

One home test you can try is to clap your hands loudly. Do this when you are standing some distance from your dog so that you can be sure she is reacting to the sound of the clap and not the movement of your hands. Another option is to have a friend or housemate ring the doorbell when you can observe the dog's reactions.

If your pup doesn't react, she may not be able to hear, and a visit to the vet is in order. Your vet can help to determine the cause, and since not all hearing loss is permanent, especially in adult dogs, the vet can determine the best treatment options. Even if she does react to the home test, if you notice concerning behavior changes in your dog, visit the vet. She could be deaf in only one ear, or she may have another medical condition that needs attention. You can also discuss how to help a deaf dog live a safe and happy life.

BAER testing for dogs

Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) is the hearing test administered by your veterinarian. Your puppy must be at least 35 days old. Your vet may sedate your dog to perform the test.

In this test, your vet will insert headphones into your dog's ear and play a sound. This part is very similar to the hearing test you might take yourself. However, since a dog can't tell you that he hears a sound, the vet measures the electrical activity in the brain stem that indicates a response to sound. The response or lack of one will tell the vet whether your dog can hear in either ear.

This testing is often recommended for certain breeds that are known to have hereditary conditions that cause deafness. A few examples include Akitas, beagles, boxers, Dalmations, German shepherds, and Siberian huskies.