Many individuals have powerful memories of a beloved family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. For people with hearing loss, pets can offer additional benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to supply special benefits. Particular jobs or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to people with hearing loss. But that’s not always the case. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. That’s why, in many instances, individuals with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique bond.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it hard to hear and understand those around you. This break in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful for individuals with hearing loss? Definitely! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. And while clear communication is essential 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 connect with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
Obviously, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But when making human relationships is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. 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 chance to be around others.
Pets can give aid
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 be aware of sounds that individuals who have hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish 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.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
Sensing 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 usually react to abrupt or unknown sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. They will immediately add a degree of structure to your daily life. They need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. It’s one reason why many types of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But if you’re thinking about getting a pet or service animal, it’s essential to give it some careful consideration. You want to select an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to adequately take care of.
It’s also essential to note that service animals cannot take the place of a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
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