Many people have strong memories of a cherished family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide array of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some cases, become close companions. For people with hearing loss, pets can offer additional 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 provide specific kinds of support or even complete 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 often formed as a result.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand those around you. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with others.
So, is having a pet helpful for individuals who have hearing loss? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it does not rely on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can effectively bond with a wide variety of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional reinforcement during what might be a very lonely time.
Clearly, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But it can offer some solace and assistance when making other connections can be challenging. Additionally, pets can offer you more chances 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 opportunity to be around others.
Pets can be great assistants
Service dogs, as an example, utilize specialized training to assist their humans get around the world more safely. Generally, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that those who have hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other hazards.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. People with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
Service animals are specifically trained to notice these sounds and communicate them to their human. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to someone with hearing loss. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Likewise, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to unexpected noises or changes, and people who are aware and in tune with their pets might be able to pick up on these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your day-to-day life. They need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for instance. 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 considering a pet or a service animal. You want to pick an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately care for.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same degree of long-term benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be a major part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
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