Many people have strong recollections of a cherished family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can provide added benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some cases, pets bring these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific types of assistance or even perform special tasks. But that isn’t always the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. That’s why, in many instances, individuals with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel really isolating. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with others.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? 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. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with a wide variety of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonesome time.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But it can offer some solace and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Additionally, pets can give you more opportunities to make connections with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you a chance to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily initiate a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can give aid
In the instance of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to assist their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that people with hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. This can help people with hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are especially trained to do. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to somebody with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often bark when somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also often react to sudden or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life may not even be recognized. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your day-to-day life. They need to be fed, walked, and given love on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Many different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But if you’re thinking about getting a pet or service animal, it’s important to give it some thoughtful consideration. You want to pick an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to properly take care of.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t capable of providing the same degree of long-term benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For individuals with a hearing loss, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
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