Tom is excited, he’s getting a brand new knee! Hey, the things you look forward to change as you age. He will be able to move moving around more easily 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.
The knee doesn’t heal properly. Tom ends up back in the hospital with an infection and will need another surgery. It’s getting less exciting for Tom by the minute. As the nurses and doctors attempt to determine what occurred, it becomes evident that Tom wasn’t following his recovery instructions.
Tom didn’t purposely ignore the instructions. Tom actually never even heard the instructions. Tom can take some comfort in the fact that he isn’t alone: there’s a solid link between hearing loss and hospital visits.
More hospital visits can be the result of hearing loss
By now, you’re likely familiar with the typical drawbacks of hearing loss: you grow more withdrawn from your loved ones, you increase your risk of social solitude, and have an increased danger of getting cognitive decline. But we’re finally beginning to comprehend some of the less evident drawbacks to hearing loss.
One of those relationships that’s becoming more apparent is that hearing loss can lead to an increase in emergency room visits. One study revealed that individuals with hearing loss have a 17% greater risk of needing a visit to the emergency room and a 44% higher chance of readmission later.
What’s the connection?
This could be the situation for a couple of reasons.
- Once you’re in the hospital, your potential of readmission goes up significantly. Readmission occurs when you are discharged from the hospital, spend some time at home, and then need to go back to the hospital. Sometimes this takes place because a complication occurs. Readmission can also occur because the original issue wasn’t correctly managed or even from a new problem.
- Untreated hearing loss can negatively affect your situational awareness. Anything from a stubbed toe to a car accident will be more likely to take place if you aren’t aware of what’s around you. Obviously, you could end up in the hospital due to this.
Increased chances of readmission
So why are those with untreated hearing loss more likely to be readmitted to the hospital? This occurs for a couple of reasons:
- If you have neglected 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 will be unable to perform your physical therapy treatment as well as you otherwise would. This can result in a longer recovery time while you’re in the hospital and also a longer recovery once you’re discharged.
- Taking care of 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 had knee replacement surgery. Maybe you’re not supposed to take a shower for three weeks but you thought your doctor said three days. Now your wound is in danger of developing a serious infection (one that could land you back at the hospital).
Keeping track of your hearing aids
At first glance, the solution here might seem simple: just use your hearing aids! Sadly, in the early stages of hearing loss, it frequently goes unnoticed because of how gradually it progresses. The solution here is to schedule a hearing test with us.
Even if you do have a set of hearing aids (and you should), there’s another complication: you might lose them. It’s often a chaotic scene when you have to go in for a hospital stay. So the possibility of losing your hearing aid is definitely present. Knowing how to deal with hearing aids during a hospital stay can help you remain involved in your care.
Tips for preparing 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 avert a lot of headaches (and other discomfort) in the future. Here are a number of basic things you can do:
- In a hospital environment, always advocate for yourself and ask your loved ones to advocate for you.
- Be mindful of your battery power. Keep your hearing aid charged and bring spares if needed.
- Wear your hearing aids whenever you can, and keep them in their case when you’re not using them.
- Don’t forget your case. It’s very important to have a case for your hearing aids. This will make them much easier to keep track of.
- 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.
Communication with the hospital at every stage is the trick here. Your doctors and nurses should be made aware of your hearing loss.
Hearing is a health concern
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 substantially impacted by your hearing. In a lot of ways, hearing loss is no different than a broken arm, in that each of these health issues requires prompt treatment in order to prevent possible complications.
You don’t need to be like Tom. The next time you find yourself in the hospital, be certain that your hearing aids are nearby.