Many individuals have powerful memories 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. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Particular jobs or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to people with hearing loss. But that’s not always the situation. Even a common animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special bonds between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be hard to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel really isolating. Communication becomes troubled and, because of this, you may spend less time socializing with others.
So, is owning a pet good for people with hearing loss? It sure is! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals is possible without needing to hear verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
This does not replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But it can offer some consolation and assistance when making other connections can be challenging. Additionally, pets can give you more opportunities to connect with other humans. 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, use specialized training to help their humans get around the world more safely. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that people who have hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for someone with hearing loss:
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. This can help people who have hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
Service animals are specially trained to notice these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals are not the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a dog with no training will often start barking when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Similarly, cats or other animals can be extremely 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, as well.
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 several times every day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s part of the reason why many kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s important to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting 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.
It’s also essential to mention that service animals cannot take the place of a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the long-term benefits and in terms of their capabilities. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Take the first step toward hearing better. Give us a call today!