When an individual suffers from a disability that impacts the day-to-day functions of their life, there are a variety of methods that can be utilised to help ease the completion of these tasks. From hearing aids and cochlear implants for people with hearing loss, to walkers and canes for individuals with balance issues, we have a large assortment of options at our disposal.
One of the more favourable options is a service dog. These animals undergo extensive training to help individuals with a plethora of disabilities to perform everyday tasks. While service dogs can be used for a variety of conditions, they are commonly used with the following four:
Hearing Dogs – Individuals with hearing loss or deafness often use hering dogs to help alert them to sounds they might not be able to experience. These animals are trained to alert their owners to different noises, such as: their name, smoke alarms, doorbells, the telephone, timers and other sounds we come across in our day-to-day lives. These dogs are also trained to remove their owners from situations which might be dangerous, like when a fire alarm is sounding they know to collect their partner and take them outside.
Mobility Assistants –Individuals with mobility or balance issue often rely on service animals to help them keep their pace and to soften the fall if they stagger off balance. Individuals with conditions like Meniere’s which affects balance and sometimes hearing can really benefit from using a service animal. These animals have to be able to withstand a certain weight and serve as a pillar for their owners.
Seeing Dogs – Guide Dogs allow people with impaired vision or blindness to continue their daily tasks without having to rely on another person. These animals help guide their owners around obstacles and also are trained to keep them out of harms way. Guide dogs require individuals to undergo training as well, so they can instruct their service animals on the proper direction. The two work in tandum to help arrive at their desired destination.
Psychiatric dogs – Many people don’t realise animals can be used to aid in treatment of psycological issues. For individuals with extreme anxiety or panic disorders, depression, agoraphobia and post traumatic stress disorders, service animals can provide the constant companionship needed. Service animals often work with individuals suffering from these issues by making them get out of bed in the morning to take them out, helping the owner face their fear or panic of the outside world and by distracting them from anxious or nervous thoughts.
If you feel that you or someone you know would benefit from a service animal, please visit these following website for more information.
Hearing dogs – http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
Seeing dogs – http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/
Mobility Assistant – http://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/
Psychiatric Service Dogs – http://padogsuk.org/index.html
All above information belongs to http://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51534-A-woof-with-a-purpose-featured-bloggers
