Happy memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many individuals. Our lives can be enriched by many kinds of animals including; dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and birds. In many instances, they are our close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for people who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
In some cases, pets convey these benefits because they have been specifically trained to do so. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to give specific kinds of assistance or even perform special tasks. Sometimes, though, that’s not the case. Friendship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special bonds between animals and people who have hearing loss are frequently formed as a result.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
With hearing loss, it can be difficult to hear and understand what people are saying, which can feel very isolating. Communication becomes troubled and, because of this, you may spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is having a pet worthwhile? Absolutely! There are a number of non-verbal ways that a companion animal can communicate. Clear communication with animals can be achieved without the need to hear verbal language. People with hearing loss can successfully bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can offer comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonely time.
This does not replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can provide some comfort and support. Also, pets can give you more chances to connect with other humans. Taking your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you an opportunity to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation or make a new friend.
Pets can provide aid
Service dogs, as an example, utilize specialized training to assist their humans navigate the world more safely. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that those with hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Here are a few things that a service dog can do for somebody with hearing loss:
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when that human is being spoken to. This can help those who have hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other dangers.
- Notifying 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 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 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. Adding some structure to everyday life is one of those benefits. They must get fed, walked, and given love on a regular basis, for instance. A structured life like this can be very comforting. It’s one reason why many kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.
But if you’re contemplating getting a pet or service animal, it’s essential to give it some careful consideration. You will need to be able to properly care for the animal you select 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 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 people with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
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