How To Help a Senior Dog With Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is common as people get older, and the same is true for dogs. While hearing aids for dogs aren’t common (yet!), there’s still a lot pet parents can do to help senior dogs with hearing loss.  

Most dogs adapt remarkably well. With a few adjustments, you can continue to give your aging pup a comfortable, happy life. 

Is It Normal for Older Dogs To Lose Their Hearing?

Yes, hearing loss is a very common age-related change in senior dogs.  

The condition is called presbycusis, which simply means age-related hearing loss. It typically develops during the last third of a dog’s expected lifespan and gradually worsens over time. It may or may not lead to complete deafness. 

Presbycusis generally affects both ears. The ability to hear mid- to high-frequency sounds (a whistle, for example) is usually lost first, but eventually dogs have trouble hearing at all frequencies.  

The most common form of presbycusis in dogs involves degeneration of structures within the inner ear, including hair cells and the organ of Corti, which respond to sound vibrations. Age-related changes in the brain may also play a role.  

Signs Your Senior Dog Is Losing Their Hearing

Because age-related hearing loss happens slowly, many dogs compensate extremely well at first. As a result, pet parents may think that their dog has suddenly gone deaf, even though the process has been unfolding over months or years.

Common signs include:

• Not responding to sounds: Your dog may stop reacting to familiar noises, such as thunder or the garage door opening. 

• Not responding to their name or training cues: You may notice your dog no longer turns their head or comes when called. This isn’t stubbornness or “selective hearing”—they genuinely may not hear you. 

• Behavior changes: Some dogs become more withdrawn or less active due to reduced environmental stimulation. Others can appear nervous, clingy, confused, disoriented, or even aggressive. Being easily startled, especially when approached from behind, is common. 

• Lack of ear movement: Dogs typically move their ears toward sounds to better hear them. If your dog’s ears rarely move, they may have hearing loss. 

• Deeper sleep: Your dog may sleep through sounds that once woke them up.  

• Barking changes: Some dogs bark less because they no longer hear what used to trigger them. But others might bark more and/or more loudly, maybe because they don’t hear themselves as well as they used to. 

How Do Vets Check for Hearing Loss in Dogs?

Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you think your dog may be losing their hearing. Ear infections, canine cognitive dysfunction, and other health problems can cause symptoms that are similar to those seen with age-related hearing loss in dogs.  

Your veterinarian will take a thorough health history and perform a physical exam, including a close look inside your dog’s ears. 

They may also perform basic hearing tests, such as clapping their hands while your dog is facing away or using a tuning fork near each ear to observe their response. These tests aren’t perfect, but they can give you an idea if your dog has hearing loss. 

The only definitive way to check a dog’s hearing is with a Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test. This painless neurological test measures electrical activity in the brain in response to sound.  

It only takes a few minutes, but BAER testing typically requires a referral to a specialty veterinary hospital or veterinary school and is not commonly used in cases when a dog is thought to have age-related hearing loss. 

How To Help a Senior Dog Through Hearing Loss

Hearing loss in older dogs can be stressful for both you and your pet. But with a few adjustments, your old dog can still thrive. 

1. Adapt Communication 

Verbal cues will become less and less effective as your dog’s hearing worsens. If possible, start teaching your dog hand signals for important behaviors like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” while they still have some hearing by combining your current spoken cue with a unique hand gesture. But dogs can still learn new hand signals even if they’re completely deaf. 

2. Find New Ways To Get Your Dog’s Attention 

Deaf dogs can feel vibrations. So if your dog is lying on the floor but isn’t aware of your presence, try stomping your feet.  

Collars that deliver a gentle vibration (not a shock!) like the Bousnic 3350FT Remote Vibration Dog Training Collar are a great training tool for teaching dogs when to look your way for a hand signal. 

3. Avoid Startling Your Dog 

Never sneak up on a dog with hearing loss. Startled dogs may injure themselves or be scared enough to bite. Remind visitors, especially children, to only approach when your dog is looking right at them. 

4. Prioritize Safety 

Dogs who cannot hear well are at a greater risk of injury, such as being hit by a car. Keep your dog in a securely fenced yard or on a leash when outdoors.  

5. Let Your Dog Use Their Other Senses 

Provide enrichment with toys that let dogs use their other senses, like the Pet Parents Forager Snuffle Mat or the KONG Licks Dog Treat Dispensers Toy. 

Talk to your veterinarian if your dog seems to be struggling to adapt to their hearing loss. One small study points to a possible link between a dog’s hearing, cognitive function, and quality of life. So the sooner your dog gets the support they need, the better.