Military working dogs play a vital role in a variety of roles, including tactical operations, patrol, detection, and specialized searches.

Hearing loss, either temporary or permanent, can impair the animal’s performance, compromise ability to hear commands, and shorten the dog’s working capacity. Hearing protection for canines has long-existed, but these devices were limited in their effectiveness due to poor fit and cumbersome design.

In response, the U.S. Army Medical Research Development Command funded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to develop a better option. Zeteo Tech, Inc., along with Pete “Skip” Scheifele, MD, PhD, developed the Canine Auditory Protection System (CAPS). CAPS uses a lightweight, acoustic absorption material that conforms to the shape of the dog’s head creating a proper seal.

Related Resources
U.S. Army: Innovative Hearing Protection May Safeguard Military Working Dogs

Share this

Related Posts

The Utilization of Telehealth Services (Drazen Zigic/shutterstock.com)

The Utilization of Telehealth Services

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Audiology (2020) provided audiologists with guidance regarding the use of telehealth services. In October 2021, the Academy released a position statement titled The Use of Telehealth for the Delivery of Audiological Services. Members can access this statement here. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have expanded telehealth services,…

Read More
Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD

Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately five percent of the pediatric population. Up to 50 percent of children with ADHD also exhibit motor control and balance issues in addition to the more commonly seen symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Fidgeting, poor motor planning, increased postural sway, and difficulty sitting still may be related…

Read More
Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults (Cedric E/shutterstock.com)

Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults

At the end of September 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data overviewing rates of death resulting from unintentional falls between the years of 1999–2020 by adults 65 years and older (Garnett et al, 2022). The report showed that death rates have increased, with the largest increase seen by those aged…

Read More