Evaluation of Otoacoustic Emissions in Clinically Normal Alert Puppies

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) measurements in puppies with normal hearing.ANIMALS:23 clinically normal 7.5-to 10.5-week-old puppies.PROCEDURES:A cross-sectional study was performed. The DPOAE measurements were obtained with a commercially available distortion product otoacoustic measurement system and were performed in a quiet, non-sound-attenuated room. All measurements were obtained from alert puppies and were repeated 1 or 2 times to ensure that the measurements were replicable. Results that were a minimum of 8 dB higher than the noise floor were accepted. Values from the first trial in which emissions were obtained at all test frequencies were used for analysis.RESULTS:Otoacoustic emission measurements were easily obtained, robust, reliable, and consistent with auditory brainstem response and behavioral results.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Hearing screening in alert puppies can be accomplished reliably and rapidly with otoacoustic emissions testing. Results supported the possibility of the use of DPOAE measurement in hearing screening of dogs.