Happy memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many people. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Particular tasks or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many cases, people with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be difficult to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. Communication becomes fraught and, because of this, you may spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is owning a pet helpful for people who have hearing loss? It sure is! There are lots of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. And while clear communication is important with animals, it does not depend on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can effectively bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonely time.
This does not replace human-to-human social contact, of course. 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. Even if you aren’t necessarily talking with others 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
In the instance of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to help 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 might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for those who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Service dogs can even be trained to recognize their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. Individuals with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
Service animals are specially trained to notice these sounds and communicate them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be useful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often start barking when somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Similarly, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and those who are aware and in tune with their pets may be able to pick up on these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life may not even be noticed. They will immediately add a degree of structure to your everyday life. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times each day. A structured life like this can be very comforting. It’s part of the 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 thoughtful consideration. You want to select 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 big 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 an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For people with a hearing loss, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
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