Fond memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many individuals. 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 individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
In some circumstances, pets bring these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Particular tasks or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that isn’t always the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. That’s why, in many instances, people with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique bond.
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 really isolating. This gap in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful? Definitely! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of 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 connect with an animal friend can give emotional support and comfort.
Obviously, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But it can give some consolation and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Also, pets can offer you more chances to connect with other humans. 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 provide aid
In the instance of a service dog for hearing impaired people, 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 pay attention to sounds that individuals who have hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teakettle.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Service dogs can even be trained to recognize their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. People with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm 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 somebody with hearing loss. Even a dog without any 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 unknown sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are tuned in to their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life may not even be noticed. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. For instance, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times each day. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Lots of different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
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 choose and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
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. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and start moving toward better hearing!
