Introduction: Which animals are deaf?

Hearing is an essential sense that allows animals to perceive sounds in their environment, communicate with each other, and locate prey or predators. However, not all animals have the same hearing abilities, and some are completely or partially deaf. Deafness can result from genetic mutations, injuries, infections, or environmental factors, such as noise pollution. In this article, we will explore which animals are deaf and how their hearing anatomy and adaptations differ.

The anatomy of hearing in animals

The ability to hear depends on the complex anatomy of the ear, which varies among different animal groups. In general, the ear consists of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The outer ear captures sound waves and directs them to the eardrum, which vibrates and transmits the sound to the middle ear. The middle ear contains three tiny bones, the malleus, incus, and stapes, which amplify and transmit the vibrations to the inner ear. The inner ear contains the cochlea, a spiral-shaped organ that converts the vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can interpret as sound. In addition, the inner ear contains balance organs that help animals orient themselves in space. The complexity and sensitivity of each ear part can affect the hearing abilities of animals.