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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 doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks. They may also work outside the home, alerting to such sounds such as sirens, forklifts, people approaching from behind, 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 obedience and exposed to things they will face in public such as elevators, shopping carts, 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 numbercitation needed of deaf or hearing-impaired individuals who undertake the challenge of training their own hearing dogs.
Accessibility
In the United States, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 allows hearing dogs, along with guide and service dogs, 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 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.
External links
- Assistance Dogs International; List of Service and Hearing dog providers
- Information about Service Animals in the United States
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 10 November 2008, at 18:08.
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