Happy memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many individuals. Our lives can be enriched by many types of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many instances, they are our close companions. For people with hearing loss, pets can provide further benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Particular tasks or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to people with hearing loss. But that isn’t always the case. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special bonds between animals and people who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be difficult to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel really isolating. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is owning a pet helpful for individuals who have hearing loss? Absolutely! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without needing to hear verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can give emotional support and comfort.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human connections is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Also, pets can give you more opportunities to make connections with other people. Even if you aren’t necessarily talking with others 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 great helpers
In the case 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. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that those 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:
- Detecting dangerous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. This can help people with hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
Service animals are specifically trained to detect these sounds and convey them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to somebody with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Similarly, cats or other animals can be quite sensitive to sudden noises or changes, and those who are aware and in tune with their pets might be able to pick up on these things, as well.
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. For instance, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times every day. A structured life like this can be very 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 want to pick an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to adequately care for.
While a service animal can be a great 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 an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
Take the first step toward hearing better. Give us a call today!