Many people have powerful recollections 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. For people who have hearing loss, pets can offer further 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. Service animals for people with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific kinds of assistance or even complete particular tasks. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. That’s why, in many instances, individuals with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be extremely isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand those around you. This break in communication can cause the person with hearing loss to isolate themselves.
So, is having a pet helpful for people with hearing loss? Absolutely! There are lots of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without needing to hear verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a really lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human connections is a challenge, it can offer some comfort and support. Additionally, pets can give you more opportunities to connect with other humans. 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 provide aid
Service dogs, for example, make use of specialized training to assist their humans get around the world more safely. Mostly, that means these service animals are trained to be aware of sounds that individuals who have hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise speaks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help people with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other hazards.
- Alerting their human to everyday sounds including a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
- Letting their human know that the smoke detector is sounding.
Detecting these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But service animals aren’t the only way one might 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 often react to sudden or unfamiliar sounds which their owner will recognize if they are tuned in to their pet.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your daily life. They must get fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for instance. A structured life like this can be really comforting. It’s part of the reason why all types of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But it’s worthwhile to be thoughtful if you’re considering a pet or a service animal. You want to pick an animal that’s going to meet your requirements and that you will be able to properly take care of.
It’s also essential to mention that service animals can’t take the place of a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the lasting benefits and in terms of their capabilities. Pets can, however, be great companions and can enhance your overall quality of life. They can be a unique and valuable part of their life.
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