Many people have strong memories of a beloved family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can offer further benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some circumstances, pets bring these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Service animals for individuals with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific forms of support or even perform special tasks. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Even a common animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and friendship. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful? Definitely! There are lots of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals is possible without needing to hear verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
Clearly, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can offer some comfort and support. Pets can also help you discover opportunities to connect with other people. Even if you’re not necessarily talking with people or making new friends, doing things like taking your dog for a walk in the park can give you the chance to be around others.
Pets can be ideal assistants
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. Mostly, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that individuals who have hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Service dogs can even be trained to recognize their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. This can help people who have hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds like a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a screeching teapot.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
Service animals are specially trained to notice these sounds and convey 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 someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also often react to abrupt or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life might not even be recognized. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your everyday life. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved several times each day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s part of the reason why all kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s essential to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You will need to be able to properly care for the animal you select and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t capable of providing the same degree of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. 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.
Call us today for an appointment and start moving toward better hearing!
