Fond memories of a cherished pet is a common experience for many individuals. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety 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 buddy.
Sometimes, pets are specifically trained to provide special benefits. Particular tasks or specific kinds of help can be performed by these animals which are trained to provide help to individuals with hearing loss. Sometimes, though, that’s not the case. Companionship and comfort can come from animals with no special training. Special friendships between animals and individuals who have hearing loss are often formed as a result.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be incredibly 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. And while clear communication is important with animals, it doesn’t depend on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with all kinds of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can give comfort and emotional reinforcement during what might be a very lonely time.
This doesn’t replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But when making human relationships is a challenge, it can offer some comfort and support. Pets can also help you discover opportunities to connect with other people. Bringing your dog to the dog park, for example, 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, as an example, utilize specialized training to help their humans navigate the world more safely. People with hearing loss will often fail to hear important sounds around them and service animals are specifically trained to listen for those sounds and to provide guidance to their human.
Some of the things a service dog for those with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to day-to-day sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Recognizing when someone 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 with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Detecting a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing.
- Informing their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Detecting the sound of approaching traffic or other hazards.
Service animals are specifically 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 start barking when someone 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 lots of benefits to your life without you even realizing it. They will instantly add a degree of structure to your day-to-day life. For example, they will have to be walked, fed, and loved several times each day. A structured life like this can be very comforting. Many different kinds of animal-assisted therapies exist because of this.
But it’s essential 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 select and you will want one that will meet your needs.
It’s also important to note that service animals can’t replace 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 improve your overall quality of life. For individuals with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable, and unique, part of their life.
Take the first step toward hearing better. Give us a call today!