Many individuals have powerful memories of a cherished family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. For people with hearing loss, pets can offer further benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some circumstances, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Service animals for people with hearing loss can be trained to give specific kinds of support or even complete particular jobs. But that’s not always the situation. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. That’s why, in many instances, individuals with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique bond.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. This break in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is owning a pet good for individuals with hearing loss? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it doesn’t depend on verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
This does not replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human relationships is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more opportunities to make connections with other humans. 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 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. Individuals with hearing loss will often fail to hear important 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 those with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a whistling teakettle.
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help people who have hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
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 useful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often start barking when somebody 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 in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life may not even be noticed. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your everyday life. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for instance. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s one reason why all kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s essential to be thoughtful if you’re considering a pet or a service animal. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately care for.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t able to provide the same degree of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be a major part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For people 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!