Happy memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many people. Our lives can be enriched by many types of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many cases, they are our close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can offer further 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 give specific kinds of assistance or even complete special tasks. But that’s not always the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. That’s why, in many cases, individuals with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard 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 isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful? It sure is! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without the need to hear verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
This does not replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But when making human connections is a challenge, it can offer some comfort and support. Also, pets can offer you more opportunities to make connections with other people. 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 be great helpers
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to help their humans navigate the world more safely. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that individuals with hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for those who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. Individuals with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other dangers.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds including a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teakettle.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But service animals are not the only way one could benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Similarly, cats or other animals can be quite sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and those who are aware and dialed in with their pets may 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. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s part of the reason why many types of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But if you’re thinking about getting a pet or service animal, it’s essential to give it some thoughtful consideration. You will need to be able to properly care for the animal you select and you will want one that will meet your needs.
It’s also essential 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. Pets can, however, be great companions and can improve your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing loss, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and start moving toward better hearing!