Hearing assessment and BAER testing

Key facts

BAER

Brainstem auditory evoked response [source]

Primary teaching-hospital resource

UC Davis hearing-test clinic [source]

Understand the test

UC Davis operates a hearing-test clinic using brainstem auditory evoked response testing, commonly abbreviated BAER. Keep this clinical test distinct from an informal observation that a dog responds to its name or a whistle. Behaviour can be influenced by attention, context and other cues, so a working session alone is not a complete hearing assessment.

Describe what changed

Record whether the concern involves one direction, certain sounds, distance or a sudden change from usual behaviour. Note any ear discomfort, head movement or other signs. Do not deliberately expose a dog to frightening or loud noise to see whether it reacts; supply ordinary observations to the veterinary team.

Clarify the purpose

Ask whether testing is being used to investigate a clinical concern, document congenital hearing status or meet a particular screening requirement. Retain which ears were tested, the date, dog identity and examiner’s report. A report should not be simplified into a broader claim about every aspect of neurological health or future working performance.

Plan handling and records

Explain the dog’s work environment and normal communication methods so any management advice addresses real tasks. Keep a result accessible to future caregivers and discuss relevant breeding questions through the responsible professionals. New ear disease or altered function still needs assessment even when an earlier hearing test was satisfactory. This page does not provide a home test or claim a breed’s prevalence from appearance.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• UC Davis: Hearing Test Clinic (opens in a new tab)

Keep exploring