Tom is getting a new knee and he’s super pumped! Hey, the things you get excited about change as you get older. 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 a success, and Tom heads home!
But that isn’t the end of it.
The knee doesn’t heal as well as it should. Tom finds himself back in the hospital with an infection and will require another surgery. Tom is not as excited by this point. The nurses and doctors have come to the realization that Tom wasn’t adhering to their advice and guidelines for recovery.
Tom didn’t purposely deviate from the instructions. Tom actually never even heard the instructions. It turns out that there is a solid connection between hospital visits and hearing loss, so Tom isn’t alone.
More hospital visits can be the outcome of hearing loss
The common disadvantages of hearing loss are something that most people are already familiar with: you tend to socially isolate yourself, causing you to become more distant from friends and loved ones, and you increase your danger of developing dementia. But there can be added, less obvious drawbacks to hearing loss, too, some of which we’re just beginning to really understand.
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 people with hearing loss have a 17% higher danger of needing a trip to the emergency room and a 44% increased chance of readmission later on.
Is there a connection?
There are a couple of reasons why this could be.
- Untreated hearing loss can negatively impact your situational awareness. 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 end up in the hospital because of this.
- Once you’re in the hospital, your chance of readmission goes up significantly. Readmission occurs when you are released from the hospital, spend some time at home, and then have to go back to the hospital. Sometimes this happens because a complication occurs. In other instances, readmission may result from a new issue, or because the initial issue wasn’t addressed correctly.
Increased risk of readmission
Why is readmission more likely for people who have neglected hearing loss? There are a couple of reasons for this:
- When your doctors and nurses give you instructions you may not hear them very well because of your neglected hearing loss. 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 might. Whether you’re still in the hospital or at home, your recovery duration could be greatly increased.
- Caring for yourself after you get home will be practically impossible if you don’t hear the guidelines. If you’re unable to hear the instructions (and particularly if you’re not aware that you aren’t hearing your instructions properly), you’re more likely to reinjure yourself.
Let’s say, for instance, 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. Now your wound is in danger of developing a serious infection (one that could put you back at the hospital).
Keeping track of your hearing aids
The solution may seem simple at first glimpse: just use your hearing aids! Regrettably, hearing loss usually advances very gradually, and individuals with hearing loss might not always recognize they are experiencing symptoms. Coming in to see us for a hearing exam is the solution here.
Even after you’ve taken the measures and invested in a set of hearing aids, there’s still the chance you may lose them. It’s often a chaotic scene when you have to go in for a hospital stay. 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 engaged in your care.
Tips for prepping for a hospital stay when you have hearing loss
If you’re dealing with hearing loss and you’re going in for a hospital stay, many of the headaches and discomfort can be avoided by knowing how to prepare. Here are a few basic things you can do:
- Wear your hearing aids whenever you can, and when you aren’t using them, make sure to keep them in the case.
- Take your case with you. Having a case for your hearing aid is very important. They will be able to be better taken care of that way.
- Communicate to hospital staff about your hearing loss. The more educated you are about your hearing loss, the less chance there is for a miscommunication to happen.
- In a hospital setting, 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 necessary.
The trick here is to communicate with the hospital at every phase. Your doctors and nurses should be made aware of your hearing loss.
Hearing is a health issue
So maybe it’s time to stop thinking of hearing health and your general wellness as two completely different things. After all, your hearing can have a substantial affect on your general health. In many ways, hearing loss is no different than a broken arm, in that each of these health problems calls for prompt treatment in order to avoid possible complications.
You don’t have to be like Tom. Keep your hearing aids close the next time you have to go in for a hospital stay.
