Happy memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many people. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enhance 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 friend.
In some circumstances, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to give specific forms of support or even complete particular jobs. But that isn’t always the case. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. That’s why, in many instances, people with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique connection.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. Communication becomes troubled and, because of this, you might spend less time socializing with others.
So, is owning a pet good for people who have hearing loss? It sure is! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without needing to hear 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 take the place of 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 aren’t necessarily talking with others 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 be great assistants
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to help their humans navigate the world more safely. Individuals with hearing loss will often fail to hear essential sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to pay attention to those sounds and to provide assistance to their human.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Detecting dangerous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teapot.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. This can help people who have hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
Service animals are specifically trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be useful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often bark when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also usually react to abrupt or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are tuned in to 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 everyday life is one of those benefits. For example, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times every day. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Many different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But if you’re contemplating getting a pet or service animal, it’s important to give it some careful consideration. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you choose and you will want one that will meet your needs.
It’s also important to note that service animals can’t replace a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the long-term benefits and in terms of their capabilities. However, pets can be a major part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
Take the first step toward better hearing. Give us a call today!