Tom is thrilled, 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 around a lot better. So Tom is admitted, the operation is a success, and Tom heads home!
But that’s not the end of it.
Regrettably, the healing process doesn’t go very well. Tom ends up back in the hospital with an infection and will require another surgery. It’s getting less thrilling for Tom by the minute. The nurses and doctors have come to the conclusion that Tom wasn’t adhering to their advice and guidelines for recovery.
So here’s the thing: it isn’t that Tom didn’t want to follow those recovery guidelines. The issue is that he never heard them. Tom can take some comfort in the fact that he’s not by himself: there’s a strong connection between hospital visits and hearing loss.
More hospital visits can be the consequence of hearing loss
The common disadvantages of hearing loss are something that most people are already familiar with: you tend to socially separate yourself, causing you to become more removed from friends and loved ones, and you increase your risk of developing cognitive decline. But we’re finally starting to comprehend some of the less obvious drawbacks to hearing loss.
One of those relationships that’s becoming more apparent is that hearing loss can lead to an increase in emergency room visits. One study found that individuals with hearing loss have a 17% higher risk of needing a visit to the emergency room and a 44% higher risk of readmission later on.
Is there a link?
There are a couple of reasons why this might be.
- Once you’re in the hospital, your chance of readmission goes up considerably. Readmission occurs when you’re released from the hospital, spend some time at home, and then need to go back to the hospital. Complications sometimes happen that result in this readmission. Readmission can also occur because the original problem wasn’t correctly managed or even from a new issue.
- Your situational awareness can be affected negatively by neglected hearing loss. If you aren’t aware of your surroundings, you may be more likely to get into a car accident or stub your toe. Obviously, you could wind up in the hospital due to this.
Increased chances of readmission
So why are individuals with untreated hearing loss more likely to be readmitted to the hospital? There are a couple of reasons for this:
- If you have neglected hearing loss, you may not be able to hear the instructions that your nurses and doctors give you. You won’t be able to effectively do your physical therapy, for instance, if you fail to hear the guidelines from your physical therapist. This can result in a longer recovery period while you’re in the hospital and also a longer recovery once you’re out.
- Caring for yourself after you get home will be practically impossible if you don’t hear the guidelines. You have a higher likelihood of reinjuring yourself if you don’t even know that you didn’t hear the instructions.
For instance, let’s pretend you’ve recently had knee replacement surgery. Maybe you’re not supposed to shower for three weeks but you thought your doctor said three days. And you could find yourself back in the hospital with a severe infection.
Keeping track of your hearing aids
At first glimpse, the answer here might seem basic: just use your hearing aids! Sadly, in the early stages of hearing loss, it often goes undetected because of how slowly it develops. The solution here is to make an appointment for a hearing exam with us.
Even if you do have a set of hearing aids (and you should), there’s another situation: you might lose them. Hospital visits are usually rather chaotic. So the possibility of losing your hearing aid is definitely present. You will be better able to remain involved in your care when you’re in the hospital if you know how to handle your hearing aid.
Tips for getting prepared for a hospital stay when you have hearing loss
Knowing how to get ready 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:
- Communicate to hospital staff about your hearing loss. Miscommunication will be less likely if they are well notified about your situation.
- In a hospital environment, you should always advocate for yourself and ask your loved ones to advocate for you.
- Whenever you can, wear your hearing aids, and when you aren’t wearing them, make certain to keep them in the case.
- Be mindful of your battery power. Bring spares if you need them and charge your hearing aids when you can.
- Take your case with you. It’s very important to use a case for your hearing aids. This will make them a lot easier to keep track of.
The key here is to communicate with the hospital at every phase. Your doctors and nurses need to be made aware of your hearing loss.
Hearing is a health concern
It’s important to acknowledge that your hearing health and your overall health are closely related. After all, your hearing can have a significant impact on your overall health. In a lot of ways, hearing loss is the same as a broken arm, in that each of these health issues calls for prompt treatment in order to avoid possible complications.
You don’t have to be like Tom. The next time you find yourself in the hospital, make certain your hearing aids are with you.
