Happy memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many individuals. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some cases, become close companions. For people who have hearing loss, pets can offer further 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 give specific forms of assistance or even perform particular tasks. But that isn’t always the case. 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 provide improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel really isolating. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet good for individuals with hearing loss? Absolutely! 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 depend on verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
Clearly, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But when making human connections is a challenge, it can offer some comfort and support. Pets can also help you find opportunities to connect with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can provide aid
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to assist 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 guidance to their human.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Observing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other dangers.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Recognizing when someone speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help people with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm is sounding.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are especially trained to do. But service animals are not the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can bark when the doorbell rings. Likewise, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to abrupt noises or changes, and people who are aware and dialed in 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. Adding some structure to everyday life is one of those benefits. For example, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved several times every day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s part of the reason why all types of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s worthwhile to be thoughtful if you’re considering a pet or a service animal. You want to select an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to properly care for.
While a service animal can be a big 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 improve your overall quality of life. For individuals with a hearing loss, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Call us today for an assessment and start moving toward better hearing!