Tom is getting a brand new knee and he’s super pumped! Look, as you get older, the types of things you get excited about change. He will be capable of moving around more easily and will experience less pain with this knee replacement. So Tom goes in, the operation is a success, and Tom heads home!
But that isn’t the end of it.
Regrettably, the healing process doesn’t go very well. An infection sets in, and Tom ends up back in the hospital for another knee surgery. It’s getting less thrilling for Tom by the minute. The nurses and doctors have come to the conclusion that Tom wasn’t following their advice and guidelines for recovery.
Tom didn’t purposely ignore the instructions. Tom actually never even heard the instructions. Tom can feel a little better in the fact that he isn’t by himself: there’s a strong connection between hearing loss and hospital visits.
Hearing loss can result in more hospital visits
The typical drawbacks of hearing loss are something that most people are already acquainted with: you tend to socially isolate yourself, causing you to become more removed from friends and family, and you increase your risk of developing cognitive decline. But there can be additional, less apparent drawbacks to hearing loss, too, some of which we’re just starting to truly understand.
Increased emergency room trips is one of those relationships that’s becoming more evident. People who suffer from untreated hearing loss have a higher danger of going to the emergency room by 17% and will be 44% more likely to need to be readmitted later on, according to one study.
Is there a link?
This could be the case for a couple of reasons.
- Your likelihood of readmission significantly increases once you’re in the hospital. But when you’re released and go home for a time but then need to go back to the hospital, readmission occurs. Complications sometimes happen that lead to this readmission. Readmission can also happen because the initial problem wasn’t properly managed or even from a new issue.
- 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. These sorts of injuries can, obviously, send you to the hospital (if you stub your toe hard enough).
Increased chances of readmission
Why is readmission more likely for people who have neglected hearing loss? This occurs 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 effectively do your physical therapy, for instance, if you fail to hear the instructions from your physical therapist. This can result in a longer recovery duration while you’re in the hospital and also a longer recovery once you’re discharged.
- Caring for yourself after you get home will be practically impossible if you don’t hear the guidelines. If you can’t hear the instructions (and especially if you don’t know you aren’t hearing your instructions properly), you’re more likely to reinjure yourself.
For instance, let’s pretend you’ve recently had knee replacement surgery. Your surgeon may tell you not to shower for the next 3 weeks, but you hear 3 days instead. Now your wound is in danger of getting a severe infection (one that could land you back at the hospital).
Keeping track of your hearing aids
At first glance, the answer here may seem basic: just use your hearing aids! Regrettably, hearing loss often progresses very slowly, and individuals with hearing loss may not always recognize they are experiencing symptoms. 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 frequently a chaotic scene when you have to go in for a hospital stay. Which means there’s a lot of potential to lose your hearing aids. You will be better able to remain involved in your care when you’re in the hospital if you know how to handle your hearing aid.
Tips for taking your hearing aids with you during a hospital stay
If you have hearing loss and you’re going in for a hospital stay, many of the headaches and discomfort can be prevented by knowing how to get yourself ready. There are some simple things you can do:
- Communicate to hospital staff about your hearing loss. Miscommunication will be less likely if they are well notified about your situation.
- Don’t forget to bring your case. Using a case for your hearing aid is very important. They will be able to be better cared for that way.
- Urge your loved ones to advocate for you. You should always be advocating for yourself in a hospital setting.
- Use your hearing aids when you can, and when you aren’t using them, make certain to keep them in the case.
- Keep your eye on your battery’s charge. Keep your hearing aid charged and bring spares if necessary.
Communication with the hospital at every stage is the trick here. Your doctors and nurses should be made aware of your hearing loss.
Hearing loss can cause health problems
So perhaps it’s time to stop thinking of hearing health and your overall wellness as two totally different things. After all your overall health can be substantially impacted by your hearing. In many ways, hearing loss is no different than a broken arm, in that each of these health problems requires prompt treatment in order to avoid possible complications.
The power to avoid Tom’s fate is in your hands. The next time you find yourself in the hospital, be sure your hearing aids are with you.