Many people have powerful memories of a beloved family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enhance our lives, and even, in some situations, become close companions. Quality of life and symptom management for individuals who have hearing loss can also be improved by having a pet friend.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to supply special benefits. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be carried out by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that isn’t the situation. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can provide comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many cases, individuals with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique bond.
Is owning a pet good for mental health?
Neglected hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand people around you. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you might spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is having a pet helpful? It sure is! There are lots 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. People with hearing loss can effectively bond with a wide variety of pets (this is usually dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional support during what might be a very lonesome time.
This does not replace human-to-human social connection, of course. But it can offer some solace and assistance when making other connections can be difficult. Additionally, pets can offer you more opportunities 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 opportunity to be around others.
Pets can be great helpers
Service dogs, for example, utilize specialized training to assist their humans get around the world more safely. Primarily, that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that individuals who have hearing loss may otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for people with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Hearing the doorbell ring or a knock on the door.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Alerting their human to daily sounds like a phone ringing, alarm clock, or a screeching teapot.
- Service dogs can even be trained to distinguish their human’s name, and when someone is talking to that human. This can help those who have hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other hazards.
Service animals are specifically trained to notice these sounds and convey them to their human. But service animals aren’t the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Similarly, cats or other animals can be quite sensitive to abrupt noises or changes, and those who are aware and dialed in with their pets may 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 everyday life is one of those benefits. For example, they will need to be walked, fed, and loved several times every day. A structured life like this can be very comforting. Lots of different types of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
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 choose and you will want one that will meet your requirements.
While a service animal can be a great help, they aren’t capable of providing the same level of long-term benefits or the same capabilities as a hearing aid. However, pets can be a major part of your life and provide a trusty companion. They can be a unique and important part of their life.
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