Many people have strong recollections of a beloved family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can provide further benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to give specific kinds of assistance or even perform special jobs. Sometimes, though, that’s not the situation. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special friendships between animals and people who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand people around you. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals is possible without needing to hear verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can effectively bond with all kinds of pets (this is usually dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional support during what may be a very lonely time.
Obviously, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can offer some comfort and support. Pets can also help you discover opportunities to connect with other people. Even if you’re not necessarily talking with others 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 be ideal helpers
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 be aware of sounds that people with hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. People who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to someone with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can bark when the doorbell rings. Similarly, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and those who are aware and in tune with their pets may be able to pick up on these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for instance. A structured life like this can be very comforting. 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 will need to be able to take proper care of the animal you select and you will want one that will meet your needs.
It’s also important to note that service animals can’t take the place of a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. However, pets can be a vital part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
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