Why do some deaf people have a support dog?

Just as some blind people have guide dogs, some deaf people have “hearing” dogs to help them in their everyday lives. And just like guide dogs, hearing dogs are specially trained from a young age with a set of particular and important skills.

What do hearing dogs do to help?

Well, unsurprisingly, hearing dogs “hear” for their masters! Specifically trained to identify certain sounds, hearing dogs can alert their owners to things they might otherwise not know about.

They can warn people of dangers such as smoke alarms, react to a text message sound, or let you know there’s someone at the front door.

Obviously, because their owners are deaf, barking isn’t much use, so hearing dogs are trained to use physical contact when alerting people. The type of contact indicates how serious the situation is. Nudging you with their nose might be a sign the doorbell is ringing, but touching you with their paw and then lying down is a warning there’s an alarm going off.

Hearing dogs are even taught to recognise sign language!

Benefits of having a hearing support dog

The first benefit of having a support dog is safety. Whether it’s a smoke alarm in your kitchen or a fire alarm in your workplace, having a faithful companion beside you to warn you of danger is always a bonus.

There’s also the companionship that comes with a pet, especially dogs. Dogs are fiercely loyal and eternally loving, and deaf or not, make everyone’s life better.

Many people with hearing difficulties suffer from loneliness and depression, and a dog can really help fight these problems. They’re also great in social situations, encouraging people to engage in conversation, something many deaf people unfortunately miss out on.

For many people, having a dog brings purpose and meaning to their life, as having someone that relies on you gives you purpose. For deaf and hard of hearing, this bond can be even stronger.

Who can get a hearing dog?

Here in the UK, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People train dogs to be support dogs. Since starting in 1982, they have matched thousands of people with their furry friends.

To qualify for a hearing dog, here are some of the basic criteria:

• You are aged 18 or older
• You have a severe to profound deafness in both ears
• You can walk a dog for an hour every day
• The dog will not be away from you for more than 4 hours at a time
• You like dogs
• You do not have any pet dogs at home under 10 years of age.

In addition to these basic criteria, many other factors are considered on an individual basis and acceptance is based upon an assessment of these factors.

The cost to train and support each hearing dog throughout their lifetime is £40,000 – a lot of money – so the charity relies heavily on people donating. If you are interested in sponsoring a puppy from as little as £3 per month, please click here for more information.

Do you have a hearing dog? What’s the coolest thing about them? Let us know in the comments below!