Tom is excited, he’s getting a brand new knee! Look, as you get older, the kinds of things you look forward to change. His knee replacement means he will feel less pain and be able to get around a lot better. So the operation is a success and Tom heads home.
That’s when things take a turn.
The knee doesn’t heal as well as it should. An infection sets in, and Tom ends up back in the hospital for another knee surgery. It’s becoming less thrilling for Tom by the minute. As the nurses and doctors attempt to figure out what occurred, it becomes clear that Tom wasn’t adhering to his recovery guidelines.
So here’s the thing: it isn’t that Tom didn’t want to observe those recovery guidelines. Tom actually never even heard the instructions. Tom can feel a little better in the fact that he’s not alone: there’s a solid connection between hospital visits and hearing loss.
Hearing loss can lead to more hospital visits
The common drawbacks of hearing loss are something that most people are already familiar with: you tend to socially separate yourself, causing you to become more distant from friends and loved ones, and you increase your risk of developing cognitive decline. But we’re finally beginning to understand some of the less apparent disadvantages to hearing loss.
Increased emergency room trips is one of those relationships that’s becoming more apparent. Individuals who struggle with untreated hearing loss have a higher risk of going to the emergency room by 17% and will be 44% more likely to need to be readmitted later on, as reported by one study.
What’s the connection?
This could be the case for a couple of reasons.
- Your potential of readmission substantially increases once you’re in the hospital. But when you’re released and go home for a time but then need to go back to the hospital, readmission happens. Complications sometimes happen that result in this readmission. In other instances, readmission might result from a new issue, or because the initial problem wasn’t properly addressed.
- Neglected hearing loss can negatively impact your situational awareness. Anything from a stubbed toe to a car accident will be more likely to happen if you aren’t aware of your surroundings. 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 occurs for a couple of reasons:
- If you have untreated hearing loss, you might not be able to hear the instructions that your doctors and nurses give you. For instance, if you can’t hear what your physical therapist is telling you to do, you will be unable to perform your physical therapy treatment as well as you otherwise might. 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 instructions. If you can’t hear the instructions (and especially if you’re not aware that you aren’t hearing your instructions properly), you’re more likely to reinjure yourself.
For instance, let’s say you’ve recently undergone knee replacement surgery. Maybe you’re not supposed to take a 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 solution here might seem simple: just use your hearing aids! Regrettably, hearing loss often advances very slowly, and those with hearing loss may not always recognize they are feeling its effects. Coming in to see us for a hearing test is the solution here.
Even after you’ve taken the steps and invested in a pair of hearing aids, there’s still the possibility of losing them. Hospital trips are often rather chaotic. So the possibility of losing your hearing aid is absolutely present. Knowing how to deal with hearing aids during a hospital stay can help you remain involved in your care.
Tips for taking your hearing aids with you during a hospital stay
Knowing how to get ready for a hospital stay when you’re dealing with hearing loss can avert a lot of headaches (and other discomfort) in the future. Here are a few basic things you can do:
- Make sure that the hospital staff is aware of 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 needed.
- Don’t forget your case. It’s very important to use a case for your hearing aids. This will make them much easier to keep track of.
- Use your hearing aids when you can, and when you aren’t using them, make certain to keep them in the case.
- In a hospital setting, you should always advocate for yourself and ask your family to advocate for you.
Communication with the hospital at every phase is key here. Your doctors and nurses should be made aware of your hearing loss.
Hearing loss can cause health problems
It’s important to understand that your hearing health and your general health are closely related. After all your general health can be significantly impacted by your hearing. Hearing loss is like any other health problem in that it needs to be treated as soon as possible.
The power 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.
