Posted by & filed under Audiology, Charity, Hearing Loss.

Everybody’s heard about guide dogs for the blind, but have you heard of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People?

1

Life for deaf people can often be very difficult. Not hearing the alarm clock or doorbell, as well as text messages and fire alarms can leave deaf people feeling very isolated, not to mention the safety risks of not hearing fire or burglar alarms.

Can you imagine the frustration of waiting in at home for a delivery, only to not hear it and miss it?

For this reason, ‘Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’ is a charity dedicated to training puppies to become ‘Hearing Dogs’.

Hearing dogs are trained to listen out for what their owner cannot. The dogs are trained to find their owner and sit down in front of them whenever they hear sounds they’ve been trained to detect. When the owner sees the dog sit down, they simply hold out their hands, as if to ask the dog “Where?”. The hearing dog will then take them to the source of the sound needing attention. So once the doorbell rings, the dog will find its owner, and take them to the door.

Additionally in instances requiring swifter attention such as in the event of a fire, hearing dogs are trained to find their owner and sit down, indicating to leave the premises as soon as possible.

Photography by Paul Wilkinson Photography Ltd.

Pictured above: a hearing dog assisting its owner in their weekly shopping.

Naturally, because all alarms, ringtones, and house layouts differ, the hearing dogs have to be specially trained to the owner’s specific house. This means training these life-saving dogs isn’t easy, and isn’t cheap.

Hearing dogs also receive no government funding at all and rely solely on donations, hearing dogs currently have 873 hearing dogs helping deaf people, which is very impressive on no government funding.

2

Furthermore, hearing dogs don’t just make their owners aware of hazards and alerts, but also help their owner socially! As mentioned before, deaf people can, unfortunately, live very isolated lives and often feel uncomfortable when not close to a loved one. Having a hearing dog means breaks away at that isolation barrier found commonly within deaf people. This is because owners will be frequently leaving the house, going for walks with their invaluable companions, and often coming across other dog walkers.

The hearing dogs really make a difference and provide much-needed companionship for their owners.

Those feeling generous can donate anything from £3 per month, to sponsor the training of a hearing puppy. If you want to sponsor a puppy for hearing dog training, or want to show your support to this unique charity, head over to their website for more information!

Find out more: https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/