Fond memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many individuals. Our lives can be enriched by many kinds of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many instances, they are our close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
In some circumstances, pets bring these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to give specific kinds of support or even complete special jobs. But that isn’t always the situation. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special bonds between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be incredibly isolating, making it hard to hear and understand those around you. Communication becomes troubled and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is having a pet helpful? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without the need to hear verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can give emotional support and comfort.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But when making human connections is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more chances to make connections with other humans. Taking your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you a chance 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 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 assistance to their human.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other hazards.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds like a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks 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.
Service animals are specifically trained to notice these sounds and convey 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 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 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. They must get fed, walked, and given love on a regular basis, for example. A structured life like this can be very comforting. It’s one reason why many kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But if you’re contemplating getting a pet or service animal, it’s essential to give it some careful consideration. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you pick and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t able to provide the same level of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and start moving toward better hearing!
