Many people have powerful memories of a cherished family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some cases, become 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 cases, pets convey these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to give specific types of support or even perform special tasks. Sometimes, though, that’s not the situation. Even a common animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and companionship. That’s why, in many cases, people with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel really isolating. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful? Absolutely! There are lots of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it doesn’t depend on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with all kinds of pets (this is usually dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonely time.
Obviously, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But when making human connections is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect with other people. Taking your dog to the dog park, for instance, 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 case 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. People with hearing loss will often fail to hear essential sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to listen for those sounds and to provide direction to their human.
Some of the things a service dog for those with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. Individuals who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Detecting dangerous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a whistling teakettle.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
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 someone with hearing loss. Even a dog without any training will often bark when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also often react to sudden or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will recognize if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. They will immediately add a degree of structure to your daily life. They must get fed, walked, and given love on a regular basis, for example. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s one 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 pick an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to properly take care of.
It’s also essential 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. However, pets can be a major part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For people with a hearing loss, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
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