Tom is getting a new knee and he’s really jazzed! Look, as you age, the kinds of things you get excited about change. He will be capable of moving around more freely and will have less pain with this knee replacement. So Tom is admitted, the operation is successful, and Tom goes home!
But that isn’t the end of it.
Regrettably, the healing process doesn’t go very well. Tom finds himself back in the hospital with an infection and will require another surgery. It’s getting less exciting for Tom by the minute. As the nurses and doctors try to determine what took place, it becomes clear that Tom wasn’t adhering to his recovery instructions.
Tom didn’t purposely ignore the guidelines. Tom actually never even heard the instructions. It turns out that there is a strong link between hospital visits and hearing loss, so Tom isn’t by himself.
Hearing loss can lead to more hospital visits
By now, you’re likely acquainted with the common disadvantages of hearing loss: you have the tendency to socially separate yourself, causing you to become more distant from friends and family, and you increase your risk of developing dementia. But there can be additional, less apparent drawbacks to hearing loss, too, some of which we’re just beginning to truly understand.
Increased emergency room visits is one of those relationships that’s becoming more clear. Individuals who struggle with neglected hearing loss have a higher danger of going to the emergency room by 17% and will be 44% more likely to have to be readmitted later, as reported by one study.
What’s the link?
There are a couple of reasons why this might be.
- Your chance of readmission significantly increases once you’re in the hospital. But when you’re released and go home for a time but then have to go back to the hospital, readmission happens. Complications sometimes happen that result in this readmission. In other instances, readmission may be the outcome of a new problem, or because the initial issue wasn’t addressed correctly.
- Your situational awareness can be impacted negatively by neglected hearing loss. Anything from a stubbed toe to a car accident will be more likely to take place if you’re not aware of what’s around you. These sorts of injuries can, of course, land you in the hospital (if you stub your toe hard enough).
Chances of readmission is increased
Why is readmission more likely for individuals who have neglected hearing loss? This occurs for a couple of reasons:
- When your doctors and nurses give you guidelines you may not hear them very well because of your neglected hearing loss. You won’t be able to effectively do your physical therapy, for example, if you fail to hear the guidelines from your physical therapist. Whether you’re still in the hospital or at home, your recovery time could be greatly increased.
- If you can’t hear your recovery directions, you won’t know how to take care of yourself as you continue recovering at home. If you can’t hear the instructions (and particularly if you don’t know you aren’t hearing your instructions properly), you’re more likely to reinjure yourself.
Let’s say, for instance, you’ve recently had surgery to replace your knee. Perhaps 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 serious infection.
Keeping track of your hearing aids
At first glimpse, the solution here may seem simple: you just need to use your hearing aids! Sadly, in the early phases of hearing loss, it often goes undetected because of how gradually it progresses. 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 complication: you could lose them. It’s often a chaotic scene when you need to go in for a hospital stay. So the probability of losing your hearing aid is absolutely present. Knowing how to deal with 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’re dealing with hearing loss can prevent lots of headaches (and other discomfort) in the future. Here are a number of basic things you can do:
- Take your case with you. Having a case for your hearing aid is very important. They will be able to be better cared for that way.
- 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 whenever you can, and put them in their case when you’re not wearing them.
- In a hospital environment, always advocate for yourself and ask your family to advocate for you.
- Keep your eye on your battery’s charge. Keep your hearing aid charged and bring spares if needed.
The trick here is to communicate with the hospital at every phase. Be certain that you’re telling your nurses and doctors about your hearing loss.
Hearing loss can cause health issues
So perhaps it’s time to stop thinking of hearing health and your overall wellness as two totally different things. After all your general health can be significantly affected by your hearing. Hearing loss is like any other health problem in that it needs to be treated right away.
The power 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.