Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) evaluation is a non-invasive hearing test that can confirm the existence of congenital or acquired hearing loss. This specialized test for dogs and cats takes approximately 10-15 minutes and tests each ear individually. BAER testing can be performed after 7 weeks of age and is the only accepted method of diagnosing hearing loss in pets. We can also use this test to certify your animals with OFA.
The BAER test is done by using a specialized computer that is connected to multiple electrodes placed, painlessly, under the skin at specific points on your pet’s head. Once the electrodes are in place, we will place a foam earphone in each ear that will generate a sound between 70 and 105 decibels. Any activity in the hearing pathways will be transmitted to the computer and will show as waveforms on a graph. Peaks in the waveform represent activity in the cochlea and other auditory pathways, while a flat waveform represents inactivity (deafness).