Many individuals have strong memories of a beloved family pet. 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. For people who have hearing loss, pets can offer further benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some circumstances, pets convey these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Particular jobs or specific kinds of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that’s not the situation. Even a common animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. Special bonds between animals and people who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be incredibly isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand people around you. This break in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet good for people who have hearing loss? Absolutely! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it does not rely 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 lonesome time.
This does not replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But it can give some solace and support when making other connections can be challenging. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect with other people. 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, as an example, make use of specialized training to assist their humans navigate the world more safely. Individuals with hearing loss will frequently fail to hear important sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to listen for those sounds and to provide assistance to their human.
Some of the things a service dog for those with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds including a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teakettle.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. This can help those with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and convey them to their human. But service animals are not the only way one could benefit from having an animal around. Even a dog with no training will often start barking when somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also often react to abrupt 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 might not even be recognized. Adding some structure to everyday life is one of those benefits. They need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Many different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s worthwhile to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you choose and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same level of long-term benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. Pets can, however, be great companions and can improve your overall quality of life. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and start moving toward better hearing!