Karen works at MacIntyre School in Buckinghamshire and has a severe hearing loss. Her GP suggested she contacted Hearing Support for a Hearing Therapy Support Dog.
Karen says: “The use of my eyes rather than hearing to communicate has meant I now using lip reading and Makaton in my daily life. I wear bi-lateral hearing aids and my hearing support dog alerts me to sounds such as cooker, doorbell, washing machine and when someone is speaking.”
Spirit is a hearing dog, a type of assistance dog specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks. Spirit came to Karen a therapy dog in April 2024. He was trained to Karen’s lifestyle and specifically to work in schools. Students came to walk Spirit, brush him, and play ball games with him. A lovely bond was quickly built. The students look forward to their time with Spirit.
