Many people have strong 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 supply special benefits. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific kinds of assistance or even perform particular tasks. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special friendships between animals and people who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be difficult to hear and make out what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. This gap in communication can cause the person 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. Individuals with hearing loss can effectively bond with a wide variety of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional reinforcement during what may be a very lonely time.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can offer you more opportunities to connect with other people. Even if you aren’t necessarily talking with people or making new friends, doing things like taking your dog for a walk in the park can give you the opportunity to be around others.
Pets can be ideal assistants
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to assist their humans navigate the world more safely. People with hearing loss will often fail to hear essential sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to listen for those sounds and to provide assistance to their human.
Here are some things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Detecting hazardous sounds like approaching traffic.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds like a ringing phone, alarm clock, or a screeching teakettle.
- 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 who have hearing loss better take part in communication.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
Service animals are specifically trained to notice 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 bark when the doorbell rings. Likewise, cats or other animals can be extremely 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, as well.
A symbiotic relationship
Many of the benefits that a pet can bring to your life might not even be noticed. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your day-to-day life. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an essential source of comfort. It’s part of the reason why many kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s worthwhile to be thoughtful if you’re considering 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.
While a service animal can be a big help, they aren’t able to provide the same degree of long-term benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and start moving toward better hearing!