Many people have strong memories of a cherished family pet. 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 provide additional benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some circumstances, pets bring these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Particular tasks or specific types of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and companionship. Special bonds between animals and people who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand people around you. This break in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? It sure is! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it doesn’t depend on verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can offer emotional support and comfort.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But when making human connections is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more chances to connect with other humans. Even if you’re not necessarily talking with people or making new friends, doing things like taking your dog for a walk in the park can give you the chance to be around others.
Pets can be ideal assistants
Service dogs, for 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.
Some of the things a service dog for people who have hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Service dogs can even be trained to recognize their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. People who have hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Observing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting hazardous sounds like oncoming traffic.
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 with no training will often start barking when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also often react to abrupt or unknown sounds which their owner will pick up on if they are in tune with their pet.
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. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. A structured life like this can be really comforting. Lots of different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s important 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 choose and you will want one that will meet your needs.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same degree 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. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and start moving toward better hearing!
