Tom is thrilled, he’s getting a new knee! Hey, the things you get excited about change as you age. He will be capable of moving around more freely and will experience less pain with his new knee. So Tom is admitted, the operation is a success, and Tom heads home!
But that isn’t the end of it.
The knee doesn’t heal as well as it should. Tom finds himself 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 conclusion that Tom wasn’t adhering to their advice and instructions for recovery.
Tom didn’t purposely ignore the guidelines. The problem is that he never heard them. It just so happens that there is a solid connection between hospital visits and hearing loss, so Tom isn’t alone.
More hospital visits can be the outcome of hearing loss
The typical disadvantages of hearing loss are something that most people are already familiar with: you tend to socially isolate yourself, causing you to become more distant from friends and family, and you increase your risk of developing cognitive decline. But there can be added, less apparent drawbacks to hearing loss, too, some of which we’re just beginning to truly understand.
One of those relationships that’s becoming more apparent is that hearing loss can lead to an increase in emergency room trips. People who suffer from untreated hearing loss have a higher risk of going to the emergency room by 17% and will be 44% more likely to have to be readmitted later on, according to one study.
What’s the connection?
There are a couple of reasons why this could be.
- Your likelihood of readmission significantly increases once you’re in the hospital. Readmission happens when you are released from the hospital, spend some time at home, and then have to go back to the hospital. Complications sometimes happen that lead to this readmission. In other instances, readmission may be the outcome of a new issue, or because the initial issue wasn’t properly addressed.
- Your situational awareness can be impacted negatively by untreated 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. These sorts of injuries can, of course, send you to the hospital (if you stub your toe hard enough).
Chances of readmission increases
Why is readmission more likely for people who have neglected hearing loss? This happens for a couple of reasons:
- If you have neglected hearing loss, you might not be able to hear the instructions that your nurses and doctors give you. For example, if you can’t hear what your physical therapist is telling you to do, you will be unable to do your physical therapy treatment as well as you otherwise would. 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 nearly impossible if you don’t hear the guidelines. You have a higher chance of reinjuring yourself if you don’t even know that you didn’t hear the instructions.
For instance, let’s say you’ve recently had knee replacement surgery. Your surgeon may tell you not to take a shower for the next 3 weeks, but you hear 3 days instead. And you could find yourself back in the hospital with a serious infection.
Keeping track of your hearing aids
The solution might seem straight-forward at first glimpse: you just need to use your hearing aids! Sadly, in the early stages of hearing loss, it frequently goes undetected because of how gradually it progresses. Coming in to see us for a hearing test is the solution here.
Even if you do have a set of hearing aids (and you should), there’s another complication: you might lose them. It’s frequently a chaotic scene when you need to go in for a hospital stay. Which means there’s lots of potential to lose your hearing aids. Knowing how to handle hearing aids during a hospital stay can help you remain engaged in your care.
Tips for taking your hearing aids with you during a hospital stay
Knowing how to prepare for a hospital stay when you have hearing loss can avert a lot of headaches (and other discomfort) in the future. There are some easy things you can do:
- Whenever you can, wear your hearing aids, and put them in their case when you aren’t wearing them.
- In a hospital environment, you should always advocate for yourself and ask your loved ones to advocate for you.
- Communicate to hospital staff about your hearing loss. The more informed you are about your hearing loss, the less chance there is for a miscommunication to happen.
- Bring your case with you. Using a case for your hearing aid is very important. They will be able to be better cared for that way.
- Be aware of your battery power. Bring spares if you need them and charge your hearing aids when you can.
Communication with the hospital at every phase is key here. Make sure you’re telling your nurses and doctors about your hearing loss.
Hearing loss can cause health issues
It’s important to understand that your hearing health and your general health are closely related. After all your overall health can be significantly affected by your hearing. In many ways, hearing loss is the same as a broken arm, in that each of these health problems requires prompt treatment in order to avoid possible complications.
The ability to avoid Tom’s fate is in your hands. The next time you find yourself in the hospital, be sure your hearing aids are with you.
