Fond 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 cases, become close companions. For people with hearing loss, pets can offer further benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that isn’t always the case. Even a common animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it hard to hear and understand people around you. Communication becomes fraught and, because of this, you might spend less time socializing with others.
So, is owning a pet good for individuals 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 is possible without the need to hear verbal language. People with hearing loss can successfully bond with a wide variety of pets (this is usually dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional reinforcement during what might be a very lonesome time.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But it can offer some consolation and support when making other connections can be challenging. Also, pets can offer you more opportunities to make connections with other humans. Taking your dog to the dog park, for instance, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can provide aid
In the case of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to help their human companions in moving around and functioning in the world. Generally, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that people with hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help people who have hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting dangerous sounds like approaching traffic.
Sensing these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically 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 start barking when the doorbell rings. Likewise, cats or other animals can be quite sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and people who are aware and dialed in with their pets might be able to recognize these things, as well.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even realizing it. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your daily life. For instance, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times every day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s one reason why many kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
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 pick and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t able to provide 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 impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and start moving toward better hearing!