Many individuals have strong recollections of a cherished family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some cases, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to supply special benefits. Service animals for people with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific forms of support or even complete special jobs. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no specialized training. Special bonds between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel really isolating. This gap in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet good for individuals with hearing loss? Definitely! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals is possible without the need to hear verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can effectively bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can offer comfort and emotional reinforcement during what might be a very lonely time.
This does not replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more opportunities to connect with other people. Even if you’re not necessarily talking with others 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 provide aid
Service dogs, as an example, utilize specialized training to assist their humans get around the world more safely. Generally, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that people who have hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Service dogs can even be trained to recognize their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. People who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to somebody with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Similarly, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to abrupt noises or changes, and people who are aware and dialed in with their pets may be able to pick up on these things, as well.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your daily life. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an essential source of comfort. Lots of different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s essential to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting 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 requirements.
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 an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and begin moving toward better hearing!