Fond memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many people. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to supply special benefits. Particular tasks or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to people with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that’s not 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 friends develop a special and unique bond.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand people around you. This gap in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? Absolutely! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. And while clear communication is important with animals, it does not rely 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 give emotional support and comfort.
Obviously, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But when making human connections is difficult, it can provide some comfort and support. Pets can also help you discover opportunities to connect with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for instance, 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 provide aid
In the instance 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. Generally, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that individuals with hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Service dogs can even be trained to recognize their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. People who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teakettle.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
Service animals are specifically trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often bark when somebody 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 lots of benefits to your life without you even realizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. They need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for instance. A structured life like this can be very comforting. Lots of different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s important to be thoughtful if you’re considering a pet or a service animal. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you pick and you will want one that will meet your needs.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t able to provide 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. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and begin moving toward better hearing!