Many individuals 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 cases, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
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 people with hearing loss. But that’s not always the situation. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. That’s why, in many cases, individuals with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique connection.
Can owning a pet provide improved mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it hard to hear and understand people around you. Communication becomes troubled and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with others.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? It sure is! A cat, dog, or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without needing to hear verbal language. When somebody has hearing loss, it can be a very lonely time, and being able to connect with an animal friend can provide emotional support and comfort.
This does not replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But it can provide some consolation and assistance when making other connections can be challenging. Also, pets can offer you more opportunities to make connections with other humans. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily initiate a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can be great helpers
Service dogs, as an example, utilize specialized training to help their humans get around the world more safely. Individuals 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 a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Detecting dangerous sounds like oncoming traffic.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Recognizing when somebody speaks their human’s name or otherwise talks to their human is also something service dogs can be trained to do. This can help those who have hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a whistling teapot.
Sensing these sounds and alerting their human to them is something these animals are specifically trained to do. But other non-service animals can also be helpful to someone with hearing loss. Even a dog with no training will often bark when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. Likewise, cats or other animals can be extremely sensitive to abrupt noises or changes, and those who are aware and dialed in with their pets might be able to recognize these things, as well.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add lots of benefits to your life without you even realizing it. Adding some structure to daily life is one of those benefits. They need to be fed, walked, and given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. Lots of different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s essential to be thoughtful if you’re thinking about getting a pet or a service animal. You want to pick an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to properly take care of.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same degree of lasting 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 important part of their life.
Call us today for an appointment and begin moving toward better hearing!