Many people have strong memories of a beloved family pet. Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and a wide variety of other animals can enrich our lives–and even, in some cases, become close companions. For people with hearing loss, pets can offer additional benefits that improve symptom management and quality of life.
In some cases, pets convey these benefits because they have been specially trained to do so. Service animals for those with hearing loss can be trained to provide specific forms of assistance or even perform particular tasks. But that’s not always the case. Even an everyday animal companion with no special training can offer comfort and friendship. That’s why, in many cases, people with hearing loss and their animal companions develop a special and unique bond.
Is having a pet good for mental health?
Untreated hearing loss can be exceptionally isolating, making it difficult to hear and understand those around you. Communication becomes fraught and, as a result, you may spend less time socializing with other people.
So, is having a pet good for people with hearing loss? Absolutely! A dog or a cat or other companionable animal can communicate in a wide variety of non-verbal ways. And while clear communication is important with animals, it does not rely on verbal language. Individuals with hearing loss can successfully bond with a wide variety of pets (this is typically dependent on personal preferences), and these pets can provide comfort and emotional support during what may be a very lonely time.
This does not replace human-to-human social contact, of course. But it can provide some solace and support when making other connections can be challenging. Additionally, pets can offer you more chances to connect with other humans. Taking your dog to the dog park, for example, can give you a chance to be around other people, even if you don’t necessarily strike up a conversation and make a new friend.
Pets can provide aid
In the case of a service dog for hearing impaired individuals, these animals are specially trained to help their human companions move around and function in the world. Mostly that means these service animals are trained to pay attention to sounds that those with hearing loss might otherwise miss.
Some of the things a service dog for those with hearing loss is trained to do include the following:
- Detecting a knock at the door or a ringing doorbell.
- Notifying their human when the smoke alarm goes off.
- Noticing (and alerting their human) to everyday sounds like tea kettles, alarm clocks, or the phone ringing.
- Detecting the sound of oncoming traffic or other dangers.
- Service dogs can even be trained to recognize their human’s name–and when that human is being spoken to. This can help those with hearing loss better engage in communication.
- Service animals like this can also be trained to monitor and communicate general sound awareness.
Service animals are specially trained to notice these sounds and communicate them to their human. But service animals are not the only way one might benefit from having an animal around. Even a non-trained dog can start barking when the doorbell rings. Likewise, cats or other animals can be very sensitive to sudden noises or changes–and those who are aware and in tune with their pets may be able to pick up on these things, too.
A symbiotic relationship
Pets can add many benefits to your life without you even realizing it. For example, they will likely instantly add an amount of structure to your daily life. They must get fed, walked, or given affection on a regular basis, for example. This structure can be an important source of comfort. (It’s part of the reason why all kinds of animal-assisted therapy types exist.)
But it’s important to be thoughtful if you’re considering a pet or a service animal. You want to select an animal that’s going to meet your needs and that you will be able to adequately care for.
It’s also important to note that service animals cannot replace a pair of hearing aids, both in terms of the long term benefits and in terms of their capabilities. However, pets can be an important part of your life and provide a trusty companion. For people with a hearing impairment, they can be an invaluable–and unique–part of your life.