Fond memories of a cherished 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 who have hearing loss, pets can offer additional benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to supply special benefits. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. But that isn’t always the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and companionship. That’s why, in many cases, individuals with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be incredibly isolating, making it hard to hear and understand those around you. This break in communication can cause the individual with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? Definitely! There are lots of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals is possible without needing to hear verbal language. People 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 lonesome time.
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 discover opportunities to connect with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for instance, 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 be great helpers
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to help their humans get around the world more safely. People with hearing loss will often fail to hear important sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to listen for those sounds and to provide guidance to their human.
Some of the things a service dog for people with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- 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 who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Letting their human know that the smoke alarm is sounding.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teapot.
Sensing these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But service animals are not the only way one could benefit from having an animal around. Even a dog without any training will often start barking when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also usually react to sudden or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will recognize if they are in tune with their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life might not even be recognized. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your daily life. For instance, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved several times every day. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Lots of different types 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 thoughtful consideration. You want to choose an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately take care of.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t capable of providing the same level of lasting benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For individuals 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!