Many individuals have powerful memories 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. For people with hearing loss, pets can provide further benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some cases, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Service animals for individuals with hearing loss can be trained to give specific types of support or even complete special tasks. Sometimes, though, that’s not the case. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Is owning a pet good for 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 person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful? Definitely! 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 needing to hear verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can offer some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more chances to connect with other people. Taking your dog to the dog park, for instance, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily initiate a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can give aid
In the case of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to assist their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. Generally, 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 who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Detecting dangerous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks 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.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds including a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
Sensing these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are especially trained to do. But other non-service animals can also be helpful 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 unfamiliar sounds which their owner will recognize if they are tuned in to their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life may not even be recognized. Adding some structure to everyday life is one of those benefits. For example, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved several times each day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s one reason why many types of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But if you’re contemplating getting a pet or service animal, it’s important to give it some careful consideration. You want to pick an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately care for.
It’s also important to mention that service animals cannot take the place of a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the long-term benefits and in terms of their capabilities. Pets can, however, be great companions and can enhance your overall quality of life. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
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