International Hearing Dog, Inc.

IHDI is a 501(C)3 non-profit, that was formed in 1979 as the first dog training program in the United States for people with hearing loss. Since that time, IHDI has trained more than 1,200 professionally certified hearing dogs. All of these services are free and personalized for each recipient. 

The mission of International Hearing Dog, Inc. is to train dogs to assist persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, with and without multiple disabilities, at no cost to the recipient.

Consequences of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss of any degree affects every area of a person’s life, from education to employment to personal relationships.

• Deaf parents struggle to raise their children because they can’t hear their cries;

• Seniors risk their independence when hearing loss causes them to miss sounds of danger;

• Young adults are fearful of living on their own for the first time because they can’t hear the alarm clock, the phone, doorbell, and emergency sounds.

Assistance for Hearing Impaired Persons

There are many forms of assistance for hard-of-hearing persons. Assistive-listening devices can be helpful, such as flashing lights and vibrators, but are not permanent solutions.

Hearing people, such as family members or friends, can also be supportive. However, this can rob many deaf or hard-of-hearing persons of an independent life, creating a dependence-responsibility relationship.

What is the most successful way to bring persons with hearing loss into the mainstream? Hearing Dogs.

Anti Discrimination Statement

International Hearing Dog, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, gender, or sexual orientation, applicable to International Hearing Dog's paid and volunteer staff, applicable to membership on the governing board and applicable to persons served by International Hearing Dog.