Fond memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many individuals. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some cases, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
In some cases, pets convey these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Service animals for individuals with hearing loss can be trained to give specific forms of assistance or even perform special tasks. But that isn’t always the situation. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. Special bonds 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. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is owning a pet helpful for people with hearing loss? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without the need to hear verbal language. People with hearing loss can effectively bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional reinforcement during what might be a very lonely time.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But it can provide some solace and support when making other connections can be challenging. Also, pets can give you more chances to make connections with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for instance, 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 ideal helpers
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to assist their humans navigate the world more safely. Mostly, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that people with hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other hazards.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. Individuals with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be useful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often bark when someone 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 in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. They will immediately add a degree of structure to your daily life. They need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Many different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But if you’re thinking about getting a pet or service animal, it’s important to give it some thoughtful consideration. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you pick 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 level 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.
Call us today for an assessment and begin moving toward better hearing!
