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 enrich our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be carried out by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that isn’t always the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many cases, individuals with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique connection.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be incredibly isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand those around you. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is important with animals, it does not depend on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with a wide variety of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonely time.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But when making human connections is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect with other people. 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 chance 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 assist their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. Mostly, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that those with hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for those who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help those with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
Service animals are specifically trained to detect these sounds and convey them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be useful to somebody with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can bark when the doorbell rings. Similarly, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and people who are aware and dialed in with their pets might be able to pick up on these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life may not even be recognized. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved several times each day. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Many different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s worthwhile 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 choose and you will want one that will meet your needs.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same degree of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be a major 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!