Our Nora seems to be partially deaf or even fully deaf as well.

The best thing I came up with was using a door separating two rooms. Have someone with bunny on one side and have someone on the other. Then have the person on the opposite side bang something very loudly, like a pan with a big spoon, or anything that will cause a loud, shocking noise. To test their reactions. The trick is making sure there is nothing else they can react to – like movements.

Hope this is helpful

HA! Let me know how it goes!

We are 100% certain that Apollo can hear NOTHING when his ears are down in their usual position. I asked my vet about this, and he said to wait until they’re resting/napping, and then gently take two saucepans and knock them together, getting gradually louder. Obviously if the reaction is quick, you know they can hear just fine. Pointless bun didn’t react at all while he was resting. I then got my mom to hold Apollo and put his ears upright. I did the same thing, and he jumped, looking alert, as they do. So yeah…basically what Tanlover said!

My Squirrel is deaf, probably a genetic thing as there’s no problem with his ear structure. We know, cuz we can vacuum right up to his butt and only THEN will he freak. He has a nightlight now too, cuz we’d always startle him in the dark with him not being able to hear us walking by. And he will react to noises, but only after seeing hte other bunnies freak.. like he thinks if they are freaking, something must be wrong. But then stop and stare around, not hearing what the others are.

LMAO! MB, that is like Nora! She only gets excited/scared a few seconds after everyone else does!

Bunnygirl, that’s hysterical! Poor Apollo!

Leopold is deaf. We pretty much determined this through a series of tests at home. Later, I had the vet look in there. There doesn’t appear to be anything abnormal about his ears, but the vet agreed that it was likely he could not hear anything.

Test 1: Leopold was completely engrossed in grooming himself. I walked right up to him saying “Leopold”. No reaction. Got right up to him and I bend forward, clapping my hands inches from his head. No reaction. Then he was finished grooming himself. He looked up and startled as if he had no clue I was there.

Test 2: I found a party horn from New Years Eve. Neither rabbit had heard it before. I peeked around the corner and blew the horn. Wooly immediately snapped to attention. No reaction from Leopold whatsoever.

Test 3 (suggested by BBers): I removed Wooly from the room because I felt like Leopold was taking visual cues from him. I held up the treat bag so that it was just out of sight (behind the wall as I looked in through the doorway) and I crinkled it loudly. No reaction from Leopold at all. Wooly, of course, heard me crinkling the bag and came running from the living room. LOL

Yes, it is fairly common to have a deaf Holland. I guess it is something genetic. I wouldn’t worry too much though. Leopold does just fine and I think it helps that he has a friend. Hehe, there are also some advantages to having a deaf rabbit. If I need to grab him, all I do is wait for him to be engrossed in something and I can easily sneak up on him. I guess there are disadvantages too. Leopold can’t hear me say “No” like Wooly can. So he needs to be physically redirected when doing something he shouldn’t. It also took a long time for him to understand that he is hurting you when he bites. I still think he doesn’t fully understand.