Inside the life-changing ‘call’ of hearing dogs In a previous issue, we explored how Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains hearing dogs to alert the deaf person they are partnered with to important – and sometimes life-saving – sounds through a simple nose nudge. In this issue, we turn to another remarkable skill in a hearing dog’s repertoire: ‘the call’....
✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦
No actionable change — this is a feature blog about hearing dog training and has no direct clinical practice implications for audiologists.
✦ Why It Matters ✦
Hearing dogs represent a non-technological assistive strategy for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and awareness of such services can help audiologists offer holistic rehabilitation options to patients.
✦ Key Points ✦
- 01Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains dogs to alert deaf owners to important sounds using a nose-nudge response.
- 02The nose-nudge is a specific trained behavior that cues the owner to follow the dog to the sound source.
- 03This is the fourth installment in a feature series covering hearing dog training essentials.
- 04Hearing dogs serve as a non-technological assistive option alongside hearing aids and cochlear implants.
