Many people have strong memories of a cherished family pet. Our lives can be enriched by many kinds of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many instances, they are our close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
In some cases, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Particular tasks or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that’s not always the situation. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. That’s why, in many instances, individuals with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique bond.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel really isolating. This gap in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful for people with hearing loss? Definitely! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without the need to hear verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional reinforcement during what might be a very lonely time.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But when making human connections is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect with other people. Taking your dog to the dog park, for instance, can give you a chance to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily initiate a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can give aid
In the case of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to assist their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that those with hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for those who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help those who have hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other hazards.
Service animals are specifically trained to notice these sounds and convey them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to somebody with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can bark when the doorbell rings. Similarly, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to sudden noises or changes, and those who are aware and dialed in with their pets might be able to recognize these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for instance. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Many different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But if you’re thinking about getting a pet or service animal, it’s essential to give it some thoughtful consideration. You want to pick an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately care for.
It’s also important to mention that service animals cannot replace a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For individuals with a hearing loss, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and begin moving toward better hearing!