Many individuals have strong memories of a beloved family pet. 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 circumstances, pets convey these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that’s not always the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it hard to hear and understand those around you. This gap in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet good for people who have hearing loss? It sure is! There are lots 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. People with hearing loss can successfully bond with a wide variety of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can offer comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonesome time.
This does not replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human connections is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Also, pets can offer you more opportunities to make connections with other humans. Even if you aren’t 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 give aid
In the instance of a service dog for hearing impaired people, these animals are specially trained to help their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. People with hearing loss will frequently fail to hear important sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to pay attention to those sounds and to provide direction to their human.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. This can help people with hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But service animals aren’t the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a dog with no training will often bark when somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Likewise, cats or other animals can be extremely sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and those who are aware and dialed in with their pets may be able to pick up on these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life might not even be noticed. Adding some structure to everyday life is one of those benefits. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved several times each day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. Many different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s important to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You want to pick 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 big help, they aren’t able to provide the same level of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. Pets can, however, be great companions and can enhance your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing loss, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and start moving toward better hearing!