Many individuals have powerful memories of a cherished family pet. Our lives can be enriched by many kinds of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many cases, they are our close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Service animals for people with hearing loss can be trained to give specific kinds of support or even complete special tasks. Sometimes, though, that’s not the case. Even a common animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and companionship. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand those around you. Communication becomes fraught and, because of this, you might spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is having a pet helpful? It sure is! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals is possible without needing to hear verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
Obviously, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But it can offer some solace and support when making other connections can be difficult. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect 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 opportunity to be around others.
Pets can be great assistants
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. People with hearing loss will frequently fail to hear important sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to pay attention to those sounds and to provide guidance to their human.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. Individuals with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
Sensing these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But other non-service animals can also be useful to somebody with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Cats and other animals will also often react to abrupt or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will recognize if they are tuned in to 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 daily life. They need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for instance. This structure can be an essential 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 properly care for the animal you pick and you will want one that will meet your needs.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same level of long-term 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 individuals 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!