Hearing loss can severely impact daily life, social inclusion, and mental health. The issue is becoming more concerning with time, and the World Health Organization (WHO) says that “By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss, and more than 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation. Nearly 80% of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries.”

What Level Of Hearing Loss Requires A Hearing Aid?

The most common reasons for hearing loss include low birth weight, birth asphyxia (a lack of oxygen at the time of birth), chronic diseases, meningitis, ear infections, cerumen impaction (impacted ear wax), trauma to the ear, and delayed onset or progressive genetic hearing loss. Disabling hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than 35 decibels (dB) in the better hearing ear. However, this notion adopted by the WHO in 1986, as evident in the “International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health”, has been questioned by the scientific community since 2008.

If you are not sure that you qualify as a disabled citizen with severe or profound hearing loss, please speak about this with your GP. You may have to undergo screening by a licensed member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to affirm your hearing loss status. If you are in Canada or the UK, then you will have to visit a local hearing clinic and work with your GP.

Impaired hearing can be considered a disability if it falls into a particular range. The ranges are slightly different by country, but most follow the WHO guidelines. Hearing loss is classed as a disability if it affects your daily life in an educational, social, or professional way. Please keep in mind that while there is a difference between a hard-of-hearing person and a deaf person, both persons may be severely limited in their ability to communicate, work, and enjoy social life.

Can You Get a Service Dog for Hearing Loss?

For some, man's best friend can be an invaluable aid in perceiving the world around them and keeping them safe. Hearing aid service dogs are trained to alert their users through nose nudges and paw contact of important sounds in the environment. Their work, training, and importance for the well-being of their users have been recognized in a legal context. These amazing dogs are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act in the United States, the Equality Act 2010 in the United Kingdom, and the provincial laws in Canada. Of course, many other countries have specific provisions for service dogs that we can not quote succinctly here.

For someone to qualify for a hearing aid service dog, they must have a diagnosed hearing impairment and complete a lengthy application with their healthcare system. Training this type of service dog takes a lot of time, dedication, careful selection, and pairing with an individual.

Who Provides Service Dogs for Hearing Loss?

The work that goes into training a hearing aid service dog starts with the breeder, who tests the litter for potentially suitable candidates. Then, qualified dog trainers take the pups into their care and begin their obedience training and socialization. If the dogs are approved for further training, they move to public access training and sound alert training.

The cost to select, care for, train, match, and place a hearing service dog can reach 20,000 USD per dog, according to some training organizations. Hearing aid service dogs are trained to alert to essential sounds like doorbells, phone ringtone, sirens, smoke alarms, household alarms (oven timer, for example), and their handler's name. The dogs are continuously monitored for their drive to work, and the goal is to keep them motivated.

Most hearing service dogs are trained by charities and non-profit organizations that are publicly or privately funded. Additionally, these organizations may place strict acceptance rules on the applicants for service dogs.

Who Qualifies for a Hearing Aid Service Dog?

Some facilities may require the applicants to declare that they do not have any other pets and enter into an agreement that concerns the physical and mental care for the hearing service dog. Signed medical paperwork from the applicant will be required as they move through the pairing process. Many organizations do interviews and careful examination of the living situation of the future handlers to determine the best individual to be paired with their service dog. The fully trained service dogs are often expected to have at least two emergency contacts who can take care of them in case their handlers are incapacitated or otherwise unable to care for them.

When you consider the selection of the dogs, the rigorous training, and the careful examination of the applicants, people may have to wait between one and two years for a hearing aid service dog. In some cases, applicants will be considered inactive when a dog can not be paired with them for more than two years.

Who Do I Contact About a Hearing Service Dog?

If you are based in the United Kingdom, then you may want to speak to the “Hearing Dogs for Deaf People” (Registered charity in England and Wales no. 293358 and in Scotland no. SC040486). Any clients based in North America may want to check the list of organizations provided by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). Clients in Europe may prefer to use the International Guide Dog Federation and their online tool to look for a training facility. The prices for the service dogs will vary by country and locale, so you will want to do careful research about your options.