YHD Giving Tuesday Fundraiser

Introduction

“People with hearing loss, me included, suffer from different emotional issues related to their hearing loss. One is not understanding what is happening in large gatherings, and noisy events. Another is that we alienate friends that don’t understand that we can understand them sometime and not others, or completely misunderstand what they said. Even spouses have trouble getting used to not being able to talk with their back turned, or from another room. Hearing loss is invisible. People can assume you are stubborn, stupid or don’t care when you respond inappropriately. The stress of this is hard to describe." *

The Challenge

Hearing loss is a major public health issue, affecting over 430 million people worldwide, with estimates suggesting that by 2050, this number will reach 700 million. In the United States, it is estimated that 15% of adults (37.5 million) have trouble hearing, and hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic health condition among older adults. Hearing loss is also more common in men than in women, with men being almost twice as likely to have hearing loss compared to women aged 20-69.

Individuals with severe hearing loss face numerous challenges that can significantly impact their quality of life. These problems often revolve around communication, social interaction, and emotional well-being. These might include: Misunderstandings; Social isolation; Depression and anxiety; Difficulty forming relationships; Challenges with media; Safety concerns.

A Solution

Your Hearing Dog Inc provides specially trained service dogs to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community (which includes its co-founder David Allery) as well as veterans with the sme challenges. YHD understands that hearing loss is a growing concern that affects millions of people worldwide and can have serious consequences on their daily lives. Our initiative provides a valuable solution by offering hearing dogs to the deaf and hard of hearing community. These dogs can assist with daily tasks and alert their owners to common sounds, improving their quality of life and independence.

About Sandy, our First Hearing Dog!

“Sandy and I have been together since May 20, 2024. It is an interesting process to be able to participate in training him. I get a ‘how to train” lesson once a week from the incredible David Proctor. David can get Sandy to do many tasks on the very first try, then he must train me to continue the practice. I realize when I am confusing Sandy, he wants to do what ever I ask so badly, and when I get it right. So far, Sandy can lose leash walk, sit, settle, fetch, tolerate handling, come when called (most of the time, sometimes he wants to stay outside longer and hopes I’ll let him). He is learning one skill now that has many applications called touch. It is part of the next round of training. He is amazing at it. He will touch his nose to my hand when I ask him to.

Not to be underestimated are the benefits to having him that aren’t part of his training yet. He checks noises that I might not hear on our walks. I feel the slight tug on his leash, and it forces me to check out the noise. I am hard of hearing, not deaf, which is its own category, with it’s own problems. I use a combination of lip reading and hearing to decipher speech. It works well, if the person is close enough. Sandy brings people closer to me by just being so damn stinking cute! My neighbors now know that I can’t tell what they are saying unless they are close.

Sandy must have walks. His need gets me up and out in the morning. Just the walking everyday helps the rest of me stay healthy. Sandy lives in the present, and the present of having him helps me do the same.

Without training in this area yet Sandy already knows when I am stressed out. He comes and puts his head in my lap or on my chest. When I take him outside his exuberance and zoomies relax me and make me smile.” *

* by Kathryn Romberg, our first hearing dog recipient and part of the Hearing Loss Association of America