Tom is getting a new knee and he’s really jazzed! Hey, the things you look forward to change as you age. His knee replacement means he will feel less pain and be able to get out and about a lot better. So Tom goes in, the operation is successful, and Tom heads home!
That’s when things go wrong.
The knee doesn’t heal properly. An infection takes hold, and Tom winds up back in the hospital for another knee surgery. It’s getting less exciting for Tom by the minute. As the nurses and doctors attempt to figure out what happened, it becomes evident that Tom wasn’t adhering to his recovery guidelines.
Tom didn’t purposely deviate from the guidelines. The problem is that he never heard them. It just so happens that there is a strong link between hospital visits and hearing loss, so Tom isn’t alone.
Hearing loss can contribute to more hospital visits
The common drawbacks of hearing loss are something that most people are already familiar with: you tend to socially isolate yourself, causing you to become more removed from friends and loved ones, and you raise your danger of developing dementia. But there can be additional, less apparent disadvantages to hearing loss, too, some of which we’re just starting to truly understand.
One of those relationships that’s becoming more clear is that hearing loss can lead to an increase in emergency room visits. People who struggle with neglected hearing loss have a higher danger of taking a trip to the emergency room by 17% and will be 44% more likely to have to be readmitted later on, as reported by one study.
What’s the link?
There are a couple of reasons why this might be.
- Your situational awareness can be affected negatively by untreated hearing loss. If you aren’t aware of your surroundings, you might be more likely to have a car accident or stub your toe. These sorts of injuries can, obviously, send you to the hospital (if you stub your toe hard enough).
- Your potential 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 occur that lead to this readmission. Readmission can also happen because the initial issue wasn’t correctly managed or even from a new problem.
Risk of readmission is increased
Why is readmission more likely for individuals who have untreated hearing loss? There are a couple of reasons for this:
- If you have untreated hearing loss, you may 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 won’t be able to perform your physical therapy treatment as well as you otherwise might. Whether you’re still in the hospital or at home, your recovery duration could be greatly increased.
- If you can’t hear your recovery directions, you won’t know how to take care of yourself as you recover at home. If you’re unable to hear the instructions (and particularly if you’re not aware that you aren’t hearing your instructions properly), you’re more likely to reinjure yourself.
For example, let’s say you’ve recently undergone knee replacement surgery. Your surgeon might tell you not to take a shower for the next 3 weeks, but you hear 3 days instead. And you might find yourself back in the hospital with a severe infection.
Keeping track of your hearing aids
The answer may seem straight-forward at first glimpse: just wear your hearing aids! Regrettably, hearing loss often progresses very slowly, and those with hearing loss might not always recognize they are experiencing symptoms. The solution here is to make an appointment for a hearing exam with us.
Even if you do have a pair of hearing aids (and you should), there’s another complication: you could lose them. Hospital visits are frequently quite chaotic. Which means there’s lots of potential to lose your hearing aids. Knowing how to deal with hearing aids during a hospital stay can help you remain involved in your care.
Tips for getting prepared for a hospital visit 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. There are some simple things you can do:
- Make sure that the hospital staff is aware of your hearing loss. Miscommunication will be less likely if they are well notified about your situation.
- Use your hearing aids when you can, and when you aren’t wearing them, make certain to keep them in the case.
- In a hospital environment, you should always advocate for yourself and ask your loved ones to advocate for you.
- Don’t forget to bring your case. It’s very important to use a case for your hearing aids. This will make them a lot easier to keep track of.
- Keep your eye on your battery’s charge. Keep your hearing aid charged and bring spares if needed.
Communication with the hospital at every phase is key here. Be sure you’re telling your nurses and doctors about your hearing loss.
Hearing is a health concern
So maybe it’s time to stop thinking of hearing health and your overall wellness as two completely different things. After all, your hearing can have a substantial impact on your general health. Hearing loss is like any other health issue in that it needs to be treated right away.
You don’t need to be like Tom. The next time you find yourself in the hospital, be certain that your hearing aids are with you.