Tom is getting a brand new knee and he’s really jazzed! Hey, the things you look forward to change as you age. He will be able to move moving around more freely and will have less pain with his new knee. So the operation is a success and Tom heads home.
That’s when things go wrong.
The knee doesn’t heal as well as it should. Tom ends up back in the hospital with an infection and will need another surgery. It’s becoming less exciting for Tom by the minute. As the nurses and doctors attempt to determine what occurred, 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 connection between hospital visits and hearing loss, so Tom isn’t alone.
Hearing loss can lead to more hospital visits
By now, you’re probably acquainted with the common disadvantages of hearing loss: you grow more withdrawn from your loved ones, you raise your risk of social isolation, and have an increased danger of getting cognitive decline. But we’re finally beginning to understand some of the less evident disadvantages to hearing loss.
One of those relationships that’s becoming more evident is that hearing loss can result in an increase in emergency room trips. One study discovered that individuals with hearing loss have a 17% greater risk of needing a visit to the emergency room and a 44% higher risk of readmission later.
Is there a connection?
This might be the situation for a couple of reasons.
- 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. Of course, you could end up in the hospital because of this.
- Once you’re in the hospital, your possibility of readmission goes up considerably. But when you’re released and go home for a time but then have to go back to the hospital, readmission occurs. Sometimes this takes place because a complication occurs. Readmission can also occur because the initial issue wasn’t correctly managed or even from a new problem.
Chances of readmission increases
Why is readmission more likely for people who have untreated hearing loss? This happens for a couple of reasons:
- If you have untreated hearing loss, you may not be able to hear the instructions that your nurses and doctors give you. You won’t be able to properly 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 duration could be greatly increased.
- Taking care of yourself after you get home will be practically impossible if you don’t hear the instructions. If you’re unable to 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.
Let’s say, for example, you’ve recently undergone surgery to replace your knee. Maybe you’re not supposed to take a shower for three weeks but you thought your doctor said three days. And you might find yourself back in the hospital with a serious infection.
Keeping track of your hearing aids
The answer may seem simple at first glimpse: just use your hearing aids! Sadly, in the early phases of hearing loss, it often goes undetected because of how slowly it develops. Coming in to see us for a hearing exam is the solution here.
Even if you do have a pair of hearing aids (and you should), there’s another complication: you might lose them. Hospital trips are often rather chaotic. Which means there’s lots of potential of losing your hearing aids. You will be better able to stay engaged in your care when you’re in the hospital if you know how to handle your hearing aid.
Tips for preparing for a hospital stay when you have hearing loss
If you have hearing loss and you’re going in for a hospital stay, a lot of the headaches and discomfort can be avoided by knowing how to get yourself ready. Here are a few basic things you can do:
- In a hospital environment, you should always advocate for yourself and ask your loved ones to advocate for you.
- Bring your case with you. Having a case for your hearing aid is very important. This will make them a lot easier to keep track of.
- Communicate to hospital staff about your hearing loss. The more educated you are about your hearing loss, the less likelihood there is for a miscommunication to happen.
- Whenever you can, wear your hearing aids, and when you aren’t using them, make sure to keep them in the case.
- Be aware of your battery power. Bring spares if you need them and charge your hearing aids when you can.
The trick here is to communicate with the hospital at every phase. Be sure you’re telling your nurses and doctors about your hearing loss.
Hearing is a health issue
It’s important to recognize that your hearing health and your general health are closely linked. After all, your hearing can have a significant impact on your overall health. Hearing loss is like any other health problem in that it needs to be addressed right away.
The ability to avoid Tom’s fate is in your hands. The next time you find yourself in the hospital, make certain your hearing aids are nearby.