Fond memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many individuals. Our lives can be enriched by many kinds of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many cases, they are our close companions. For people with hearing loss, pets can provide added benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be carried out by these animals which are trained to provide help to people with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that’s not the case. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it hard to hear and understand those around you. Communication becomes troubled and, as a result, you might spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is owning a pet good for individuals with hearing loss? It sure is! There are lots of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without the need to hear 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 give comfort and emotional support during what may be a very lonely time.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But it can give some solace and assistance when making other connections can be challenging. Pets can also help you find 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 chance to be around others.
Pets can be ideal assistants
Service dogs, for example, use specialized training to assist their humans navigate the world more safely. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that those with hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting dangerous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds like a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. Individuals with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals aren’t the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Cats and other animals will also usually react to abrupt or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are tuned in to their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life might not even be noticed. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved numerous times every day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. Lots of different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But if you’re contemplating getting a pet or service animal, it’s important to give it some careful consideration. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to properly take care of.
While a service animal can be a great 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.
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