"Billy makes me feel safe and happy. He helps me with sounds I cannot hear: he wakes me up in the morning and brings me messages from my mum. My friends think he is so clever because their dogs don’t do anything!"
Tilli Nixon and team hearing dog Billy
Team Hearing Dogs
Over the past 2 years we have placed 12 hearing dogs with children as part of a pilot study. Carefully chosen hearing dogs have been placed with moderately, severely and profoundly deaf children in hearing families. These specially trained dogs are known as Team Hearing Dogs. They work with the deaf child within the whole family and the parent or guardian is responsible for both the care of the child and the dog.
We are very excited about the success of the pilot project so far and the effects that these dogs have on the psychological wellbeing and development of deaf children in hearing families. We're particularly interested in the possible influence of a dog on factors such as social interaction, confidence, self-esteem and the development of relationships with peers and adults. We are also examining the relationship the child develops with the dog itself.
We are still working on the internal review which will continue into 2011 and have made the decision to place a small number of Team Hearing Dogs gradually over the next year.
Cara - the first of her kind
The first team hearing dog, black Labrador x golden retriever Cara,
has been placed with a family in Stockport where she works with mum
Dina and profoundly deaf daughter Faye. Faye helps to care for
the new member of the family. Cara’s trainer has created a rota
listing everyday necessities such as feeding Cara, changing her drinking
water and grooming her, all of which helps to increase the bond between
dog and child.
How a team hearing dog works
When Faye and her mum or dad are out and about, one parent always has a lead attached to the halti, and Faye has a lead attached to the collar and walks on the other side of Cara.
Cara also gives Faye more independence and autonomy, for example waking her up when her alarm clock goes off in the morning.
How can I find out more about team hearing dogs?
We are looking for families who would be interested in applying for a team hearing dog and who fulfil the criteria. We need children, aged between 6 and 12, who are moderately, severely or profoundly deaf.
The family should not have a dog of their own, and should feel that the placement of a trained team hearing dog would benefit the child in terms of increasing their self-confidence and self-esteem, and improve social interaction with peers and adults.
We are initially looking for applicants living in Northern Counties - please contact us for information on the area that we now cover.
If you would like more information about Team Dogs or think that you may want to apply, please contact us on 01759 322 299 or email teamdogs@hearingdogs.org.uk