Happy memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many individuals. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some cases, 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. Service animals for individuals with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific kinds of assistance or even complete special jobs. But that’s not always the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many cases, people with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it hard to hear and understand people around you. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with others.
So, is owning a pet good for people with hearing loss? It sure is! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is important with animals, it doesn’t depend on verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human relationships is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Also, pets can offer you more 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 ideal helpers
Service dogs, as an example, utilize specialized training to assist their humans get around the world more safely. Mostly, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that people with hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for those with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Detecting dangerous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. Individuals who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are especially trained to do. But service animals aren’t the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can bark when the doorbell rings. Cats and other animals will also often react to abrupt or unknown sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are tuned in to their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s one reason why all kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s worthwhile to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You want to select an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to properly care for.
It’s also important to mention that service animals can’t take the place of 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. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and start moving toward better hearing!