Happy memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many individuals. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can offer additional benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to supply special benefits. Particular tasks or specific types of help can be carried out by these animals which are trained to provide help to people with hearing loss. But that isn’t always the case. Even a common animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special friendships between animals and people who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be difficult to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. Communication becomes troubled and, because of this, you might spend less time socializing with others.
So, is owning a pet good for individuals with hearing loss? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it does not rely on verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
Clearly, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But it can offer some solace and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Additionally, pets can give you more opportunities to connect with other people. Taking your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you a chance to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can be great assistants
In the instance of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to help 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 direction to their human.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help people with hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teapot.
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 someone with hearing loss. Even a dog without any training will often start barking when somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also usually react to sudden or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will recognize if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your daily life. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times every day. 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 worthwhile to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You want to pick 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 great help, they aren’t able to provide the same degree of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. Pets can, however, be great companions and can improve your overall quality of life. For individuals with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and start moving toward better hearing!