Tom is getting a brand 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 around a lot better. So the operation is successful and Tom heads home.
That’s when things go wrong.
The knee doesn’t heal properly. An infection sets in, and Tom winds up back in the hospital for another knee surgery. Tom isn’t as psyched by this point. As the doctors and nurses attempt to figure out what occurred, it becomes evident that Tom wasn’t adhering to his recovery guidelines.
Tom didn’t purposely deviate from the guidelines. Tom actually never even heard the instructions. It just so happens that there is a strong link 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typical disadvantages of hearing loss are something that most individuals are already acquainted with: you become more withdrawn from your loved ones, you increase your risk of social isolation, and have an increased risk of getting cognitive decline. But we’re finally beginning to understand some of the less apparent drawbacks to hearing loss.
One of those relationships that’s becoming more evident is that hearing loss can result in an increase in emergency room visits. People who struggle with neglected 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, according to one study.
Is there a link?
There are a couple of reasons why this might be.
- Your situational awareness can be affected negatively by untreated hearing loss. If you’re not aware of your surroundings, you might be more likely to have a car accident or stub your toe. Obviously, you could wind up in the hospital because of this.
- Once you’re in the hospital, your possibility of readmission increases considerably. But when you’re discharged and go home for a time but then have to go back to the hospital, readmission happens. Complications sometimes occur that lead to this readmission. In other instances, readmission might be the outcome of a new problem, or because the initial problem wasn’t addressed correctly.
Increased chances of readmission
So why are individuals with neglected hearing loss more likely to be readmitted to the hospital? There are a couple of reasons for this:
- If you have neglected hearing loss, you may not be able to hear the instructions that your nurses and doctors give you. For instance, if you can’t understand 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 lead to a longer recovery duration while you’re in the hospital as well as a longer recovery once you’re out.
- If you’re unable to hear your recovery instructions, you won’t know how to care for yourself as you continue recovering at home. You have an increased likelihood of reinjuring yourself if you’re not even aware that you didn’t hear the instructions.
For example, let’s say you’ve recently undergone knee replacement surgery. Maybe you’re not supposed to shower for three weeks but you thought your doctor said three days. Now your wound is in danger of getting a severe infection (one that could put you back at the hospital).
Keeping track of your hearing aids
The answer might seem simple at first glance: you just need to use your hearing aids! Regrettably, hearing loss often progresses very slowly, and those with hearing loss might not always realize they are experiencing symptoms. 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 situation: you might lose them. Hospital visits are usually rather chaotic. Which means there’s lots of potential of losing your hearing aids. Knowing how to handle hearing aids during a hospital stay can help you remain involved in your care.
Tips for prepping for a hospital visit when you have hearing loss
If you’re dealing with 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 number of basic things you can do:
- Communicate to hospital staff about your hearing loss. The more informed you are about your hearing loss, the less likelihood there is for a miscommunication to occur.
- Encourage your loved ones to advocate on your behalf. You should always be advocating for yourself in a hospital setting.
- 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.
- Whenever you can, use your hearing aids, and when you aren’t using them, make sure to keep them in the case.
- Keep your eye on your battery’s charge. Bring spares if you need them and charge your hearing aids when you can.
The key here is to communicate with the hospital at every phase. Be sure you’re telling your nurses and physicians about your hearing loss.
Hearing is a health concern
It’s important to recognize that your hearing health and your general health are closely related. After all, your hearing can have a considerable impact on your general health. In a lot of ways, hearing loss is no different than a broken arm, in that each of these health problems requires prompt treatment in order to prevent possible complications.
The power to avoid Tom’s fate is in your hands. Keep your hearing aids close the next time you need to go in for a hospital stay.
