HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE
Program Description
“I was woken up by him shaking me and shouting ‘Nana, Nana!’ I was very disorientated and couldn’t see anything. As I came round, I realized this was because the house was full of smoke. Both smoke alarms were going off and I didn’t hear them at all, even with my hearing aids in…’I was hungry Nana. I put my breakfast in the microwave.’ When I opened the microwave, black smoke billowed out…”
-video: ‘My hearing loss put my grandchildren in life-threatening danger’ source: Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
“People who suffer from hearing loss are unable to look down at their phones or newspaper and hear what somebody is saying like hearing people take for granted. “
“…hearing dogs have saved countless lives in their important role; fire alarms sounding at the dead of night, alerting them to the shouts of a loved one who is in peril, even saving their deaf partners from potential car thieves!”
-hearingdogs.org.uk
Hearing dogs for the deaf or hard of hearing are specially trained service dogs that assist individuals with hearing impairments by alerting them to important sounds in their environment.
Dogs are trained to alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds sounds that many people take for granted. A hearing dog makes a tremendous difference to the quality of life of of deaf people and and can save lives. Assistance dogs can help deaf individuals become aware of:
• Doorbell/ knock on the door
• Alarm clock
• Digital timer
• Phone calls/ alerts
• Baby or child’s cry
• Smoke and fire alarm
• Someone taking to them while they are looking down at phone/ reading
Deafness greatly impacts quality of life. Older adults and others may experience:
• Trouble sleeping
• Isolation and Loneliness
• Concerns over Personal safety
• Tinnitus
Types of assistance dogs provided include:
Hearing dog - with a jacket and full assistance dog access rights, for deaf people who need sound support both inside and outside of the home.
Sound support dog - for people who need sound support in the home but not when out and about.
Companion dog - for people who don't require support with sounds but would benefit from emotional support and companionship because of their deafness or hearing loss.
Deaf older adults and others can apply to get a hearing dog if they meet the following criteria:
• 18 year of age or older
• Severe to profound deafness in both ears
• Able to walk a dog daily
• Will not be away from the dog more than 4 hours at a time
• Enjoy dogs
• Do not have dogs at home under 10 years of age or more than one dog.
The hearing dog training process includes teaching the dog to:
• Recognize the sound.
• Get the person’s attention.
• Lead the person to the sound's source.
• Respond to other environmental cues.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People considers many factors when determining how to match a dog with a deaf individual such as city or rural environment, social, work and family life are like, how active they are, personalities, along with strengths and weaknesses of the dog.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People works with hearing dog partnerships across the UK, and provides the deaf with assistance through a Helpdesk and support groups.
Those looking to help support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People can make monetary donations to sponsor hearing dog training, volunteer to train dogs, foster hearing dog mums, walk dogs, fundraise and more.
source: hearingdogs.org.uk
Senior In Home Care Programs
Service Dogs for Elderly
Pet Assistance for Elderly
Terminally Ill and Their Pets
WATCH VIDEO ON HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE |
|