Many individuals have powerful recollections of a cherished family pet. Our lives can be enriched by many types of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many instances, they are our 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 kinds 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 situation. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special bonds between animals and people who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is owning a pet good for individuals with hearing loss? It sure is! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is important with animals, it does not depend on verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can offer you more opportunities to make connections with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you a chance 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
Service dogs, as an example, use specialized training to help 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.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting dangerous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help those with hearing loss better take part in communication.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But service animals are not the only way one could benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Cats and other animals will also often react to abrupt or unknown sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are in tune with 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 daily life is one of those benefits. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. 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 thoughtful consideration. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately take care of.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same level of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. Pets can, however, be wonderful companions and can improve your overall quality of life. For individuals with a hearing impairment, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and begin moving toward better hearing!
