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
Related Posts
Havana Syndrome Sparks Debate Among Experts
Audio-vestibular symptoms are gaining national attention and sparking debate amongst professionals and the public. A CBS 60 Minute report on Sunday, March 31, revisited Havana…
ADHD in Children in the United States
Audiologists sometimes see patients who also present with a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reuben and Elgaddal (2024) reported the percentage of children in the…
Remote Diagnostic Hearing Assessment in School-Entry-Aged Children
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth and remote audiology visits were increasing in frequency and popularity. D’Onofrio and Zeng (2021) reported that telemedicine was adapted…