Hearing dog
Encyclopedia
A hearing dog is a specific type of assistance dog
specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hearing impaired by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbell
s, smoke alarms, ringing telephone
s, or alarm clock
s. They may also work outside the home, alerting to such sounds such as sirens, forklifts and a person calling the handler's name.
and exposed to things they will face in public such as elevator
s, shopping cart
s, and different types of people. Only after that period of socializing are they trained in sound alerting.
Hearing dogs may be trained professionally in as little as three months, though many are trained for closer to a year. Generally, training involves getting the dog to recognize a particular sound and then physically alert or lead their handler to the source. They may also be taught to physically alert to and/or lead away from a sound, such as in the case of a fire alarm
. While many hearing dogs are professionally trained, there is a growing number of deaf or hearing-impaired individuals who undertake the challenge of training their own hearing dogs.
, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
allows hearing dogs, along with guide
and service dog
s, access to anywhere the general public is permitted. Some state laws also provide access protection or additional guidelines, such as fines or criminal penalties for interfering with or denying access to a hearing dog team.
Hearing dogs often wear a bright orange leash and collar to identify them. Some also wear a cape or jacket
, which may or may not be orange.
In the United Kingdom
, hearing dogs wear distinctive burgundy jackets bearing the logo of the charity (Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
) which trains and funds them.
In Australia, hearing dogs are trained through the Lions Club International of Australia. They wear a bright orange leash, collar and harness to identify them, and carry with them an issued ID. They are permitted by law access with their handler anywhere that is open to members of the public.
Assistance dog
An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler .-Classification:...
specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hearing impaired by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbell
Doorbell
A doorbell is a signaling device typically placed near a door. Most doorbells emit a ringing sound to alert the occupant of the building to a visitor's presence, when the visitor presses a button. Many modern doorbells are electric — they are actuated by an electric switch...
s, smoke alarms, ringing telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
s, or alarm clock
Alarm clock
An alarm clock is a clock that is designed to make a loud sound at a specific time. The primary use of these clocks is to awaken people from their night's sleep or short naps; they are sometimes used for other reminders as well. To stop the sound, a button or handle on the clock is pressed; but...
s. They may also work outside the home, alerting to such sounds such as sirens, forklifts and a person calling the handler's name.
Training
Dogs that may become hearing dogs are tested for proper temperament, sound reactivity, and willingness to work. After passing initial screenings, they are trained in basic obedienceObedience training
Obedience training usually refers to the training of a dog and the term is most commonly used in that context. Obedience training ranges from very basic training, such as teaching the dog to reliably respond to basic commands such as "sit", "down", "come", and "stay", to high level competition...
and exposed to things they will face in public such as elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s, shopping cart
Shopping cart
A shopping cart is a cart supplied by a shop, especially supermarkets, for use by customers inside the shop for transport of merchandise to the check-out counter during shopping...
s, and different types of people. Only after that period of socializing are they trained in sound alerting.
Hearing dogs may be trained professionally in as little as three months, though many are trained for closer to a year. Generally, training involves getting the dog to recognize a particular sound and then physically alert or lead their handler to the source. They may also be taught to physically alert to and/or lead away from a sound, such as in the case of a fire alarm
Fire alarm system
An automatic fire alarm system is designed to detect the unwanted presence of fire by monitoring environmental changes associated with combustion. In general, a fire alarm system is classified as either automatically actuated, manually actuated, or both...
. While many hearing dogs are professionally trained, there is a growing number of deaf or hearing-impaired individuals who undertake the challenge of training their own hearing dogs.
Accessibility
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
allows hearing dogs, along with guide
Guide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...
and service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
s, access to anywhere the general public is permitted. Some state laws also provide access protection or additional guidelines, such as fines or criminal penalties for interfering with or denying access to a hearing dog team.
Hearing dogs often wear a bright orange leash and collar to identify them. Some also wear a cape or jacket
Cape (dog)
A cape, jacket, or vest is an article worn by a working dog to identify or assist them in their job.Many assistance dogs wear capes if nothing else than identification is needed. They often bear the logo of the organization that trained them, the names of companies that sponsored their training,...
, which may or may not be orange.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, hearing dogs wear distinctive burgundy jackets bearing the logo of the charity (Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a British charitable organisation founded in 1982.-External links and references:*...
) which trains and funds them.
In Australia, hearing dogs are trained through the Lions Club International of Australia. They wear a bright orange leash, collar and harness to identify them, and carry with them an issued ID. They are permitted by law access with their handler anywhere that is open to members of the public.