Fond memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many individuals. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to supply special benefits. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be carried out by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that’s not always the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many cases, people with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique connection.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you might spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is having a pet helpful for people who have hearing loss? Definitely! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without the need to hear verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can give emotional support and comfort.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But it can offer some consolation and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Also, pets can offer you more chances to connect with other people. Even if you aren’t necessarily talking with people or making new friends, doing things like taking your dog for a walk in the park can give you the opportunity to be around others.
Pets can give aid
In the instance of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to help their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. Individuals with hearing loss will often fail to hear essential sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to pay attention to those sounds and to provide direction to their human.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks 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.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other hazards.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often bark when somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also usually react to abrupt or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even realizing it. They will immediately add a degree of structure to your day-to-day life. For instance, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times every day. This structure can be an important source of comfort. It’s one reason why all kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But if you’re contemplating getting a pet or service animal, it’s essential to give it some careful consideration. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to properly take care of.
It’s also important to mention that service animals can’t take the place of a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. Pets can, however, be wonderful companions and can enhance your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Take the first step toward hearing better. Give us a call today!
