Fond memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many people. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enhance 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 bring these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Service animals for individuals with hearing loss can be trained to give specific types of assistance or even perform particular jobs. But that’s not always the case. Even a common animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many instances, people with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique connection.
Is owning 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. This gap in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
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 is possible without needing to hear verbal language. People with hearing loss can successfully bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonely time.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human relationships is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more chances to connect with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can be ideal assistants
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. 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 some things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. People who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other dangers.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals are not the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a dog without any training will often bark when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Likewise, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to abrupt noises or changes, and people who are aware and in tune with their pets might 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 instantly add a degree of structure to your everyday life. For example, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times every day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. Lots of different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But if you’re thinking about getting a pet or service animal, it’s essential to give it some careful consideration. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to properly care for.
It’s also essential to mention that service animals can’t take the place of a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. Pets can, however, be great companions and can enhance your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Take the first step toward better hearing. Give us a call today!