Fond memories of a beloved pet is a common experience for many individuals. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives, and even, in some cases, become 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. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific types of assistance or even perform particular jobs. But that isn’t always the situation. Even a common animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. Special bonds between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be incredibly isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand people around you. This gap in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to seclude themselves.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? It sure is! A dog, cat, or other companionable animal can communicate in lots of of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is essential with animals, it doesn’t rely on verbal language. People with hearing loss can effectively bond with all kinds of pets (this is usually dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonely time.
Clearly, this doesn’t take the place of contact between humans. But when making human connections is difficult, it can offer 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 chance to be around others.
Pets can provide aid
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to help their humans get around the world more safely. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that those with hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. Individuals with hearing loss will have an easier time communicating with others as a result.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teapot.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other hazards.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
Service animals are specially trained to detect these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals aren’t the only way one could benefit from having an animal around. Even a dog with no training will often bark when somebody rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Cats and other animals will also usually react to sudden or unknown sounds which their owner will recognize if they are tuned in to 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 love on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. It’s one reason why all 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 requirements.
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 a vital 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.
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