BACKGROUND: It is assumed that the hearing of dogs becomes impaired with advancing age, but little is known about the prevalence and electrophysiologic characteristics of presbycusis in this species. HYPOTHESIS: As in humans, hearing in dogs becomes impaired with aging across the entire frequency range, but primarily in the high-frequency area. This change can be assessed quantitatively by brainstem-evoked response audiometry (BERA). ANIMALS: Three groups of 10 mixed-breed dogs with similar body weights but different mean ages were used. At the start of the study, the mean age was 1.9 years (range, 0.9-3.4) in group I, 5.7 years (3.5-7) in group II, and 12.7 years (11-14) in group III. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the BERA audiograms obtained with toneburst stimuli were compared among the 3 groups. In a longitudinal study, changes in auditory thresholds of group II dogs were followed for 7 years. RESULTS: Thresholds were significantly higher in group III than in groups I and II at all frequencies tested, and higher in group II than in group I at 4 kHz. The audiograms in group II indicated a progressive increase in thresholds associated with aging starting around 8-10 years of age and most pronounced in the middle- to high-frequency region (8-32 kHz). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Age-related hearing loss in these dogs started around 8-10 years of age and encompassed the entire frequency range, but started and progressed most rapidly in the middle- to high-frequency area. Its progression can be followed by BERA with frequency-specific stimulation.
BACKGROUND: It is assumed that the hearing of dogs becomes impaired with advancing age, but little is known about the prevalence and electrophysiologic characteristics of presbycusis in this species. HYPOTHESIS: As in humans, hearing in dogs becomes impaired with aging across the entire frequency range, but primarily in the high-frequency area. This change can be assessed quantitatively by brainstem-evoked response audiometry (BERA). ANIMALS: Three groups of 10 mixed-breed dogs with similar body weights but different mean ages were used. At the start of the study, the mean age was 1.9 years (range, 0.9-3.4) in group I, 5.7 years (3.5-7) in group II, and 12.7 years (11-14) in group III. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the BERA audiograms obtained with toneburst stimuli were compared among the 3 groups. In a longitudinal study, changes in auditory thresholds of group II dogs were followed for 7 years. RESULTS: Thresholds were significantly higher in group III than in groups I and II at all frequencies tested, and higher in group II than in group I at 4 kHz. The audiograms in group II indicated a progressive increase in thresholds associated with aging starting around 8-10 years of age and most pronounced in the middle- to high-frequency region (8-32 kHz). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Age-related hearing loss in these dogs started around 8-10 years of age and encompassed the entire frequency range, but started and progressed most rapidly in the middle- to high-frequency area. Its progression can be followed by BERA with frequency-specific stimulation.
Authors: Jennifer S Yokoyama; Ernest T Lam; Alison L Ruhe; Carolyn A Erdman; Kathryn R Robertson; Aubrey A Webb; D Colette Williams; Melanie L Chang; Marjo K Hytönen; Hannes Lohi; Steven P Hamilton; Mark W Neff Journal: PLoS Genet Date: 2012-09-13 Impact factor: 5.917
Authors: Takeshi Kawakami; Vandana Raghavan; Alison L Ruhe; Meghan K Jensen; Ausra Milano; Thomas C Nelson; Adam R Boyko Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-04-06 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Alejandra Mondino; Grant Wagner; Katharine Russell; Edgar Lobaton; Emily Griffith; Margaret Gruen; B Duncan X Lascelles; Natasha Jane Olby Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-07-08 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Gilad Fefer; Michael Z Khan; Wojciech K Panek; Beth Case; Margaret E Gruen; Natasha J Olby Journal: J Vet Intern Med Date: 2022-08-06 Impact factor: 3.175