Many individuals have strong recollections of a cherished family pet. Our lives can be enriched by many types of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many instances, they are our close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to give specific kinds of assistance or even complete particular jobs. But that isn’t always the situation. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. That’s why, in many cases, individuals with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique bond.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it hard to hear and understand people around you. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you might spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is having a pet helpful for people who have hearing loss? Absolutely! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it does not depend on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with a wide variety of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional support during what may be a very lonesome time.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But it can give some consolation and assistance when making other connections can be challenging. Additionally, pets can offer you more chances to connect with other humans. 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 opportunity to be around others.
Pets can be great helpers
Service dogs, for example, utilize specialized training to assist their humans get around the world more safely. Generally, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that those who have hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teakettle.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. People with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other dangers.
Service animals are specifically trained to notice these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals are not the only way one could 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 quite sensitive to sudden noises or changes, and people who are aware and in tune with their pets might be able to recognize these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life may not even be recognized. They will immediately add a degree of structure to your day-to-day life. They must get fed, walked, and given love on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an essential source of comfort. It’s part of the reason why many kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s important to be thoughtful if you’re considering a pet or a service animal. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to adequately take care of.
It’s also essential to note that service animals cannot replace a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For people 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!