Many individuals have powerful recollections 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 people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Service animals for individuals with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific kinds of support or even perform particular jobs. But that’s not always the situation. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. Special bonds between animals and people who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be incredibly isolating, making it hard to hear and understand people around you. This break in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful for people who have hearing loss? Definitely! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is important with animals, it does not rely on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can effectively bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can offer comfort and emotional support during what may be a very lonesome time.
Obviously, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But it can give some solace and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for example, 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 instance 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. Generally, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that people with hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. This can help those with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds including a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
Sensing these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are especially trained to do. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often start barking when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also usually react to abrupt or unknown sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are tuned in to their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. Adding some structure to everyday life is one of those benefits. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times each day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. Lots of different kinds 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 careful consideration. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you pick and you will want one that will meet your needs.
It’s also essential to note that service animals cannot replace a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the long-term benefits and in terms of their capabilities. Pets can, however, be wonderful companions and can improve your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and begin moving toward better hearing!