If the response is delayed or the dog gives no response at all, contact your veterinarian for further testing. He advises against making noises that cause vibrations such as stomping your feet on the floor. This test uses electrical impulses generated by the ear after receiving sound waves to determine if a dog's neurological pathway is intact. Equipment to perform BAEP assessment is available at only certain referral institutions. Currently, the VMTH does not have BAEP assessment equipment.
Dalmatians are one breed that exhibit a high incidence of congenital deafness.
Although no consistent evidence exists, the deafness is believed to be related to the absence of color in the coats of Dalmatians. Hair coat color associations with deafness have been described with other species including mice, cats, mink, and humans. Between 20-22 percent were found to be unilaterally deaf and eight percent were bilaterally deaf. Each study tested approximately 1,000 dogs from three geographically separate areas. Setters are the second most common breed when it comes to deafness.