Many people have strong memories of a beloved family pet. Our lives can be enriched by many kinds of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many instances, they are our close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
In some cases, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the case. Even a common animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. 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?
With hearing loss, it can be difficult to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is owning a pet helpful for people with hearing loss? It sure is! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without needing to hear verbal language. Individuals 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 may be a very lonesome time.
This does not replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But it can provide some consolation and support when making other connections can be difficult. Also, pets can offer you more chances to connect with other humans. 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 opportunity to be around others.
Pets can provide aid
Service dogs, for example, use specialized training to help their humans navigate the world more safely. People with hearing loss will often fail to hear important sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to listen for those sounds and to provide assistance to their human.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Detecting hazardous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds like a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teakettle.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. This can help those who have hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
Sensing 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 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 abrupt noises or changes, and people who are aware and dialed in with their pets may be able to recognize these things, as well.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. For instance, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved several times every day. This structure can be an essential source of comfort. Lots of 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 want to select an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to properly care for.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t able to provide the same level of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. Pets can, however, be great companions and can improve your overall quality of life. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and start moving toward better hearing!