Many individuals have strong recollections of a cherished family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can offer added benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some circumstances, pets convey these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific forms of support or even perform special jobs. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. Special friendships 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 understand what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with others.
So, is owning a pet helpful for people who have hearing loss? It sure is! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it doesn’t rely on 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.
Obviously, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But it can offer some consolation and support when making other connections can be challenging. Additionally, pets can give you more chances to make connections with other people. Even if you’re not necessarily talking with people 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 provide aid
In the instance of a service dog for hearing impaired people, these animals are specially trained to help their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. Individuals with hearing loss will often 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 some things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- 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.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds including a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a screeching teakettle.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Detecting dangerous sounds like oncoming traffic.
Service animals are specifically trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals are not the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Likewise, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and people who are aware and dialed in with their pets may be able to pick up on these things, as well.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. They will immediately add a degree of structure to your daily life. For instance, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times each day. This structure can be an essential source of comfort. Many different types 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 careful consideration. You want to select an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately care for.
It’s also important to note that service animals can’t replace a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the long-term benefits and in terms of their capabilities. Pets can, however, be wonderful companions and can improve your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing loss, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and begin moving toward better hearing!
