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Pest controllers are constantly asked if those plug in the wall sonic, ultrasonic, electromagnetic etc devices really work.
The manufacturers and retailers all claim they do work. They allege that feral rats and mice will pack up and leave, yet it will cause no harm or bother domestic cats and dogs (or pet rats and mice for that matter) . What marvelously clever devices that know how to frighten and annoy bothersome pests but recognize our beloved pets and leave them alone!
Cockroaches do initially respond to electronic pest control devices by becoming slightly agitated and move around more than usual, but there has never been any evidence to support that they endeavour to escape from the sound waves. These observations include devices that emit uniform frequency as well as changing and pulsing frequencies of ultrasound.
Most pest controllers are able to tell of personal experiences where cockroaches have been found clustered around these devices, seeking out the warmth they generate.
Rodents merely adjust to the ultrasound (or any new sound) and eventually will ignore it. At best, ultrasonic waves have only a partial or temporary effect on rodents.
The University of Newcastle (Australia) and many USA universities have studied and flatly rejected ultrasonic sound as a practical means of rodent control. Ultrasound has not been shown to drive rodents from buildings or areas, nor has it been proven to cause above normal mortality in rodent populations.