Fond memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many people. 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. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals 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. Service animals for people with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific kinds of assistance or even perform special jobs. Sometimes, though, that’s not the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Can owning a pet give you improved mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be difficult to hear and understand 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 helpful for people who have hearing loss? Definitely! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it does not rely on verbal language. When someone has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to bond with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
Obviously, this doesn’t replace contact between humans. But it can provide some solace and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Also, pets can offer you more chances to make connections with other people. 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 initiate a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can give aid
Service dogs, as an example, use specialized training to help their humans navigate the world more safely. People with hearing loss will frequently fail to hear important 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 day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the door.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other hazards.
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. People who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
Detecting 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 somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Similarly, cats or other animals can be extremely sensitive to sudden noises or changes, and people who are aware and in tune with their pets might be able to pick up on these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even recognizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. For example, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved several times each day. A structured life like this can be really comforting. 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 choose and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
While a service animal can be a great 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 impairment, they can be a significant, and unique, part of their life.
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