Many people have powerful 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 individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to give specific types of support or even complete special jobs. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many instances, individuals with hearing loss and their animal friends develop a special and unique connection.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it hard to hear and understand those around you. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? It sure is! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it doesn’t rely on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can effectively bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional support during what may be a very lonesome time.
This does not replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Pets can also help you find 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 give aid
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to assist their humans navigate the world more safely. People with hearing loss will frequently fail to hear essential sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to pay attention to those sounds and to provide direction to their human.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- 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 with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like approaching traffic.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals are not the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a dog without any training will often bark when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also often react to abrupt or unknown sounds which their owner will recognize 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 everyday life is one of those benefits. For instance, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved several times each day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s one reason why many types of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s important to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you choose and you will want one that will meet your needs.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t able to provide the same level of long-term benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. Pets can, however, be wonderful companions and can enhance your overall quality of life. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and begin moving toward better hearing!
