Are Hamsters Deaf? - Pets Collector

You may have noticed that your hamster does not respond to any noise you make. Whether they’re ignoring you or they just don’t have good hearing, you may be wondering if hamsters, in general, are inherently deaf.

Hamsters are not deaf. However, their hearing only begins to develop at three to four weeks. A fully grown hamster can hear frequencies ranging from 96 Hz to 46.5 kHz, which is more than double the human hearing capacity.

In this article, I will tackle the hamster’s incredible hearing capacity and things to take note of about their auditory system. Keep on reading to know if your pet is truly deaf.

Can Hamsters Hear?

Rodents are omnivores in general. A rodent like a hamster may be too small in the wild, making them an easy target for predators. They have to rely on their instincts and sensory faculties to survive.

Regarding their hearing ability, answering whether hamsters are deaf or not is a little bit tricky. The answer largely depends on the hamster’s age.

As pups or newborn hamsters, these rodents are born deaf. They only develop their hearing when they reach three to four weeks old. Their sense of hearing then progresses until they reach old age, when their senses begin to decline.

To develop your relationship with these rodents as their owners, they need to hear your voice from time to time so that they can become acquainted with you. Understanding what kind of surroundings best suit their delicate auditory system is critical in becoming a good hamster owner.

However, while adult hamsters tend to have excellent hearing, these little rodents do have a problem: their vision is terrible. Their eyes can only see well in low-light conditions, which is suitable for nocturnal animals.

Despite that, hamsters are colorblind. Much to their disadvantage, they are also nearsighted and can only perceive their surroundings at a limited distance.

Due to nearsightedness, hamsters depend on their other senses when escaping a predator or hunting for food. Their impressive smell and hearing talents compensate for their poor eyesight.

How Sensitive Is a Hamster’s Hearing?

Hamsters have very sensitive hearing, and they can even hear sounds that are inaudible in the human ear. Once these rodents fully develop, their hearing range can broaden from 96 Hz to 46.5 kHz.

This frequency, also known as pitch, is twice the human hearing capability. Humans can sense a frequency range of only 20 Hz to 20 kHz on average.

As a result, hamsters are more sensitive to sounds with higher frequencies than humans. They can detect ultrasonic frequencies that are inaudible to us. If we’re unaware of what sounds can irritate their ears, this might stress them out and even cause permanent damage to their auditory perception.

How To Know if Your Hamster Is Deaf

You may still suspect that your pet is deaf now that you know that hamsters can hear. A lack of response to any sounds you make may suggest that your rodent has a hearing problem. Here are some things you can do to determine if your hamster is hearing-impaired.

Observe Your Hamster’s Ear Movements

A hamster’s ears typically move toward where they pick up a sound. Their ears are usually down when they just woke up and erect when they become alert and perceive any sound waves.

Try snapping your finger or making any other noise near them. If your rodent’s ears do not move, it could mean that something is wrong with its hearing.

See How They Respond to Directional Noises

Hamsters can detect a specific sound and its direction of origin. You can experiment with making sounds in different parts of the room. If your pet has not moved or sought the noise source, it may have a hearing problem.

Watch Your Hamster’s Whiskers

Whiskers play an essential role when hamsters cannot rely much on their other senses. They use these long stiff strands on their snout to navigate, find food, and learn about their surroundings. When you notice an increase in their whiskers usage, it indicates that something may be wrong with their other senses.

Consult a Veterinarian

Nothing beats the advice of a professional. Seek veterinary help to ensure your hamster’s hearing is doing alright, especially if you notice that your hamster isn’t responding to any noise whatsoever. The sooner you seek professional advice, the sooner you might be able to fix the problem.

Sounds That Hamsters Like and Dislike

Should all things go well with your hamster’s hearing ability, taking care of their hearing is vital. Satisfactory living conditions for hamsters far from auditory stressors and remembering what sounds may or may not harm them is part of essential hamster care.

It would be best to create an appropriate environment for your hamster by considering the different sounds they may hear in their surroundings. You should also be mindful of your activities in their presence, as they may cause stress and restlessness, particularly during the day while sleeping. I’ve listed some sounds that your hamster might enjoy and dislike for you to consider.

Sounds That Are Good for Your Hamster

It turns out that playing certain types of music is suitable for your hamsters. Music exposure in rodents has several positive effects as long as you play the music at a low volume. The benefits of music to hamsters include significant improvements in spatial and auditory learning, reduced anxiety-related behavior, and boosted immunological responses.

Generally, music with simple instrumental melodies is suitable for your hamsters’ relaxation. Good music choices to give your pet a well-rested sleep include:

Classical music
Piano
Soft jazz
Chilled-out house music

Keep an eye on your little rodent’s reaction to the music to determine which genre they like.

Your voice is another sound that your hamster would undoubtedly like hearing. Talking to your pet increases their familiarity with your tone and helps you develop a bond with them. Of course, speaking softly to them is sufficient, given their keen hearing.

Sounds To Avoid When Your Hamster Is Around

Contrary to melodic music, songs with heavy, loud, and fast-paced beats strain your hamsters. Avoid playing rock and metal music near them at all times. Otherwise, they might exhibit negative behaviors such as hiding, fidgeting, aggressiveness, and other stress-related behaviors.

Additionally, household appliances like computers, televisions, and vacuum cleaners produce high-frequency sounds. Given the hearing sensitivity of hamsters, it is essential to keep these electronics away from their cages when using them.

A few other sounds that may irritate your hamster include:

Chirping birds
Barking dogs
Shouting
Laughing
High-pitched voices
Children screaming

Knowing which sounds to avoid when your hamster is around is helpful. However, there may be times when you are unable to regulate the stressful sounds around your hamster’s home. Instead, you can play soothing music to reduce their stress to overpower unpleasant sounds. You can also place a cover over your hamster’s cage to make it feel safe and muffle the sounds if you can’t control noise levels.

Final Thoughts

Hamsters are generally not deaf. They have a sharp hearing ability they utilize when hunting or faced with a threat.

Despite that, if you have observed that they are unresponsive to any sound you make, there is a significant possibility that they indeed have a hearing problem. It is essential to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Finally, even if they have no hearing impairments, you should take note of the noises your hamster likes and dislikes. Knowing this will allow you to give them an environment that will not harm their hearing.