Many individuals have powerful memories of a cherished family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some cases, become close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can provide 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 performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to people with hearing loss. But that’s not always the case. Even a common animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard 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 good for people who have hearing loss? It sure is! There are lots of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals is possible without the need to hear verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
This does not replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But it can give some consolation and support when making other connections can be challenging. Additionally, pets can give you more opportunities to connect with other people. Even if you aren’t necessarily talking with people 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 give 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. Generally, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that those who have hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. This can help those with hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a whistling teakettle.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and convey them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be useful to someone with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can bark when the doorbell rings. Cats and other animals will also usually react to sudden or unknown sounds which their owner will recognize if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even realizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. For instance, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved several times every day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. Many different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s essential to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you choose and you will want one that will meet your needs.
It’s also important to mention that service animals can’t replace a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. Pets can, however, be great companions and can enhance your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing loss, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
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