Many individuals have powerful memories of a beloved family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some cases, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
In some circumstances, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Particular jobs or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Companionship 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.
Is having a pet good for 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? Definitely! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. 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 reinforcement during what might be a very lonesome time.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But when making human connections is difficult, it can offer some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more chances to make connections with other humans. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for instance, can give you a chance to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can give aid
Service dogs, as an example, use specialized training to help their humans get around the world more safely. Individuals with hearing loss will often fail to hear essential sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to pay attention to those sounds and to provide assistance to their human.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Alerting their human to daily sounds including a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
- Recognizing when someone 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.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other dangers.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and convey them to their human. 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 sudden noises or changes, and those who are aware and dialed in with their pets may be able to pick up on these things, as well.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. Adding some structure to everyday life is one of those benefits. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an essential source of comfort. Many different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s worthwhile to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You will need to be able to properly care for the animal you pick and you will want one that will meet your needs.
It’s also important 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 enhance your overall quality of life. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and begin moving toward better hearing!