Application Development for Canine Hearing Monitoring

Otitis is an inflammatory disease of the external auditory canal, being common in dogs. The treatment is complex, involves multiple antimicrobials and depends on the owner's involvement. Diagnosis in the initial stages are difficult to assess. With the increase in access to mobile App, this technology can help diagnose and monitor the evolution of canine hearing loss. The objective of the study was to develop an App for canine hearing monitoring aiming to introduce an innovative product in this sector. After evaluating available products, a software was designed in Java Script language for use on computers and cell phones with Android system, the device should reproduce sounds with a specific range to evaluate bass and treble sounds that can be affected differently in the hearing loss process. The developed application allows user and animal registration, on the test screen, it emits frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 40,000 Hz with an intensity of about 45 dB in all bands, which represents an uncomfortable sound intensity, but not an irritating one, with 5 s of duration the frequencies correspond to the canine hearing range. The App's screens are intuitive and easy to manipulate and allow the storage of results with specific dates, which can permit the tutor or the veterinarian to follow the evolution of the animal's hearing degree. The App presented functionality and after registration at the National Institute of Industrial Property is available on the web page and it will be tested in clinical practice.