Tom is excited, he’s getting a new knee! Look, as you age, the kinds of things you get excited about change. His knee replacement means he will suffer from less pain and be able to get out and about a lot better. So Tom is admitted, the operation is a success, and Tom goes home!
That’s when things take a turn.
The knee doesn’t heal as well as it should. Tom ends up back in the hospital with an infection and will need another surgery. Tom is not as psyched by this point. The nurses and doctors have come to the realization that Tom wasn’t adhering to their advice and instructions for recovery.
Tom didn’t purposely deviate from the guidelines. The issue is that he never heard them. It turns out that there is a strong connection between hospital visits and hearing loss, so Tom isn’t by himself.
More hospital visits can be the consequence of hearing loss
At this point, you’re probably familiar with the common drawbacks of hearing loss: you grow more withdrawn from your loved ones, you raise your risk of social solitude, and have an increased danger of getting dementia. But we’re finally beginning to understand some of the less apparent drawbacks to hearing loss.
Increased emergency room trips is one of those relationships that’s becoming more evident. One study discovered that people with hearing loss have a 17% greater risk of needing a trip to the emergency room and a 44% increased risk of readmission later.
Is there a connection?
There are a couple of reasons why this might be.
- Neglected hearing loss can negatively affect your situational awareness. If you aren’t aware of your surroundings, you may be more likely to get into a car accident or stub your toe. These sorts of injuries can, obviously, land you in the hospital (if you stub your toe hard enough).
- Once you’re in the hospital, your possibility of readmission goes up substantially. Readmission happens when you are released from the hospital, spend some time at home, and then need to go back to the hospital. Sometimes this takes place because a complication occurs. Readmission can also happen because the original problem wasn’t properly managed or even from a new problem.
Risk of readmission increases
So why are those with untreated hearing loss more likely to be readmitted to the hospital? There are a couple of reasons for this:
- If you have untreated hearing loss, you might not be able to hear the instructions that your doctors and nurses give you. You won’t be able to effectively do your physical therapy, for example, if you fail to hear the instructions from your physical therapist. Whether you’re still in the hospital or at home, your recovery time could be greatly increased.
- If you’re unable to hear your recovery instructions, you won’t know how to take care of yourself as you recover at home. You have an increased chance of reinjuring yourself if you’re not even aware that you didn’t hear the instructions.
Let’s say, for example, you’ve recently had surgery to replace your knee. Your surgeon might tell you not to shower for the next 3 weeks, but you hear 3 days instead. Now your wound is in danger of getting a severe infection (one that could put you back at the hospital).
Keeping track of your hearing aids
The answer may seem simple at first glance: you just need to use your hearing aids! Regrettably, hearing loss often advances very gradually, and people with hearing loss may not always recognize they are experiencing symptoms. Coming in to see us for a hearing exam is the solution here.
Even if you do have a set of hearing aids (and you should), there’s another situation: you might lose them. Hospital visits are frequently very chaotic. Which means there’s a lot of potential of losing your hearing aids. Knowing how to deal with hearing aids during a hospital stay can help you remain engaged in your care.
Tips for preparing for a hospital visit when you have hearing loss
Knowing how to prepare for a hospital stay when you’re dealing with hearing loss can prevent a lot of headaches (and other discomfort) in the future. Here are a number of basic things you can do:
- Wear your hearing aids when you can, and when you aren’t using them, make sure to keep them in the case.
- Communicate to hospital staff about your hearing loss. The more educated you are about your hearing loss, the less chance there is for a miscommunication to happen.
- Be aware of your battery power. Keep your hearing aid charged and bring spares if necessary.
- Don’t forget to bring your case. It’s very important to use a case for your hearing aids. They will be able to be better cared for that way.
- Urge your loved ones to advocate for you. You should always be advocating for yourself in a hospital setting.
Communication with the hospital at every phase is key here. Your doctors and nurses should be made aware of your hearing loss.
Hearing is a health issue
It’s important to recognize that your hearing health and your general health are closely related. After all your overall health can be substantially impacted by your hearing. Hearing loss is like any other health problem in that it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
The ability to avoid Tom’s fate is in your hands. Keep your hearing aids close the next time you have to go in for a hospital stay.
