How a Hearing Assistance Dog Can Help You
A dog is a man’s best friend, so the saying goes, but for many decades dogs have been helping people who are blind, deaf, and in need of service navigate the world. For people who are hard of hearing, a hearing assistance dog helps keep their humans safe from harm that they might not be aware of in their home or help them during loud social gatherings. Having a hearing assistance dog in your life can help you live more independently and have confidence in life.
How do Hearing Assistance Dogs Help People
Hearing assistance dogs are trained to help their humans be aware of things that are difficult for them to hear, such as alarm clocks, doorbells or knocks on the door, timers in the kitchen, alarms such as smoke burglar, or the telephone ringing. When a human doesn’t hear something in the home that they should, their hearing assistance dog will alert them with a nudge to the hand or leg and show them where the sound is coming from.
Some hearing assistance dogs also help people out in social situations, so they feel more comfortable in their surroundings. While they aren’t trained to alert their humans if there is a siren nearby, the dog will help them keep up with things socially.
Dogs are trained for 4-6 months, and their training includes activities that the human they will be placed with does, such as jogging, yard work, or bowling.
Who is Helped Most from a Hearing Assistance Dog
People who are born with or develop a hearing impairment have difficulty communicating with others. They can often experience a feeling of isolation, loneliness, and sometimes depression. If you can get a hearing assistance dog, then you can gain a sense of confidence and security doing everyday tasks again. Unfortunately, not everyone that has a hearing impairment will qualify for a hearing assistance dog. Requirements are severe deafness or hard of hearing to be eligible for a dog.
Steps for Applying for a Hearing Assistance Dog
If you or someone you know has severe deafness or hard of hearing, a hearing assistance dog would be very beneficial. Start by searching in your city for hearing assistance dog organizations. If you can’t find an organization, contact your hearing care specialist. Discuss with your family the responsibilities of owning a dog and make sure it is the right option for you.
If you feel that a hearing assistance dog would benefit you or someone you love, start doing your research now. At Sound Hearing Care, we want all of our patients to live the best life they can. Contact us today at 864-881-1663 to schedule an appointment to discuss the option of having a hearing assistance dog. We have four convenient locations at Simpsonville, Greer, Travelers Rest, and Greenville.
Having a hearing assistance dog can help people with hearing impairment live a full, independent life.
Interested in more articles about hearing loss?
