Many people have strong memories of a beloved 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. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
In some circumstances, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that’s not always the situation. Even an everyday 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 make out what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. This gap in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
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 somebody has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can give emotional support and comfort.
Obviously, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But it can offer some consolation and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Additionally, pets can give you more chances to connect with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for instance, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can be great helpers
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to assist their humans navigate the world more safely. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that people 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:
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teapot.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. People who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
Service animals are specifically trained to notice these sounds and convey them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be useful to somebody 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 pick up on 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 everyday life. For example, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times each day. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Many different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But if you’re contemplating getting a pet or service animal, it’s important to give it some careful consideration. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to properly take care of.
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 vital part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For individuals 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!