Can’t help falling in love with Elvis

Health and safety professional Nadine Hodgson was in her early 20s when she first noticed a problem with her hearing. Hospital tests failed to diagnose the cause but closer examination of her family history suggested it was a question of genetics.

A couple of later incidents showed that not only was Nadine’s hearing getting worse, but it was leaving her increasingly vulnerable. The first came when her ex-husband collapsed in the bathroom, knocking himself unconscious. He only managed to alert Nadine after he’d come to and dragged himself close enough to be able to tell her to call an ambulance.

The second scary incident came when staying at a hotel on a business trip. Colleagues asked over breakfast where she’d been the night before. When Nadine explained she was tucked up in her hotel bed, they were shocked she hadn’t heard the fire alarm. The realisation no-one had come to get her made Nadine feel very uneasy about sleeping in hotels in the future.

Further reflection, which included the frightening thought she might not be able to hear her baby son cry during the night, focused Nadine’s mind even more. She resolved to contact Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a nearby charity whose work was familiar to her.

Enter Elvis: “The most amazing companion I could ever have,” says Nadine.

“He’s brave, he’s confident, he’s clever – I’m always amazed by how much he understands – and he goes everywhere with me,” she adds.

Proud

With Elvis around, Nadine says people respond much better to her deafness – they’re much nicer to her and more understanding, so much so that she says Elvis has encouraged her to feel much prouder of her condition and to think there’s no reason it should cause her to miss out on life.

A hearing dog’s work is never done and so Elvis is ‘on duty’ 24/7. Every day starts when Elvis alerts Nadine to her alarm clock – “a happy dog waking you up with a little nudge, a lick and a cuddle is a perfect way to start the day”, she says. Then, through the day, Elvis will make it clear when someone has pressed the doorbell (he taught himself that knocking also means someone is at the door, even if he thinks they’ve come to see him – any excuse for a treat, reckons Nadine). He’ll also alert Nadine to a timer going off when she’s cooking, running a bath, or whenever else something needs to happen as part of her domestic routine.

Then there are the fire alarms, the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarm to keep an ear out for – it’s all go. Whether it’s an alarm, siren, bell or klaxon, Elvis has it covered: “To tell me there’s a sound, Elvis will nudge me, normally on my thigh, and I ask him what it is with open hands and give him a treat,” explains Nadine. “He’ll then take me to the sound.”

“But, when it’s a fire alarm, he’ll nudge me and when I ask what it is, he’ll lie down so as not to lead me towards danger.”

A fire alarm went off the very first time Nadine stayed away with Elvis in a hotel but, on cue, Elvis alerted her and she was able to evacuate safely, unaided – a proud moment.

In her work as a construction (design and management) manager with housebuilder Cala Homes, a company she’s been with for more than seven years, Nadine has had to attend six offices across the country and travel to sites to carry out inspections, audits, coaching and investigate incidents. And wherever Nadine goes, Elvis will be by her side.

But he’s not only good for Nadine’s wellbeing: “No matter how busy we are, or what tasks we are pushing through, Elvis lifts everyone’s spirits and enhances every environment, even the more mundane activities are more entertaining for having Elvis around.”

Trust

Nadine points to the importance of developing trust in a hearing dog: “You don’t automatically trust your hearing dog but the bond develops and the trust grows (on both sides),” she explains.

Nadine says Elvis has given her more independence and so allowed her to do the same for her son, who’s now just graduated from university. She says that without Elvis life would be very hard indeed but, “with Elvis by my side, I’m never alone and I feel safe.”

She’s full of praise for the people at Cala and the way they supported her through the process of enabling Elvis to become an essential part of how Nadine and her colleagues go about their business.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (HDDP) was also integral to making the partnership work, going to offices and on site to determine what would be needed to keep both Nadine and Elvis safe, speaking to managers to allay any concerns or misconceptions.

“I’ve been so lucky to have as much support as I have to adapt to my deteriorating hearing loss and to my life with a hearing dog,” says Nadine.

“I’m so grateful for the work of the amazing staff and volunteers at the charity – they’ve opened up an entirely new world for me - and with them, and Elvis, at my side, I feel like I can do anything.”

And if you’re wondering where the name ‘Elvis’ came from – when a litter of HDDP puppies is born, all the puppies are given names with the same starting letter. Elvis was part of 2019’s E litter – he has siblings called Eddie, Evita, Erica and Errol (aka Jimmy).