Fond memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many people. Our lives can be enriched by many types of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many cases, 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 buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific kinds of assistance or even perform particular jobs. But that’s not always the situation. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. That’s why, in many cases, people with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be incredibly isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand those around you. Communication becomes troubled and, because of this, you might spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is owning a pet helpful for people with hearing loss? Absolutely! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is important with animals, it does not depend on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with a wide variety of pets (this is usually dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional reinforcement during what might be a very lonely time.
Obviously, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But it can provide some solace and support when making other connections can be difficult. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect with other people. Taking your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up 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 be aware of sounds that people who have hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. People with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
Service animals are specially trained to notice these sounds and communicate them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to someone with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Cats and other animals will also usually react to sudden or unknown sounds which their owner will recognize if they are in tune with their pet.
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 need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. It’s part of the reason why all kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s important to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you select and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t able to provide the same degree of long-term benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. Pets can, however, be wonderful companions and can improve your overall quality of life. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
Take the first step toward hearing better. Give us a call today!