Hearing loss affects many different parts of our lives, and a recent study has documented an indirect effect of hearing loss on the likelihood to be readmitted to the hospital. Jan Blustein, based at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, was one of the researchers on a new paper that investigated this effect.
A nationally representative survey determined that hospital patients with hearing loss, who reported upon discharge that they had trouble communicating with their doctors, had 32 percent greater odds of readmission to the hospital in the next month than their counterparts who did not report this trouble communicating. The nature of this miscommunication is a vast area for new research, and these researchers among others will consider exactly how and why respondents found it difficult to communicate with their doctors, nurses, and other medical service personnel.
Study on Hearing Loss & Hospital Readmission
This extensive study engaged 4,436 respondents in a survey who were 65 years and older and had been hospitalized at least on time between 2010 and 2013. Of this group, about 12 percent reported that hearing difficulties made it difficult to communicate with doctors and other medical service providers. This number alone is staggering. Most of these hard-of-hearing older adults were of lower socioeconomic status, compounding the difficulties facing them in the hospital. Yet, controlling for these factors, those with hearing-related communication issues were much more likely to be readmitted to the hospital. They also had overall more health problems and reported a lower level of self-rated health. The question now is why and how does the relationship work?
One possible explanation is that those with hearing loss are simply not receiving the treatment and care they deserve. Consider the many ways that healthcare is reliant on the ability to hear and communicate clearly. When first arriving at a hospital, a patient is tasked with reporting symptoms and problems. Yet, if the patient cannot hear the questions appropriately, how are they to respond in turn? This communication may be all that doctors and other medical caregivers have to go on, especially when patients cannot respond appropriately to follow-up questions. With incomplete diagnosis, patients cannot receive the appropriate care they deserve.
Furthermore, doctor’s instructions for care and treatment are usually given verbally. In a chaotic and noisy environment such as a hospital emergency room, it may be difficult for a person with hearing loss to pick up on all the instructions being passed along. Without complete understanding of the treatment plan and instructions for at-home care, the person with hearing loss simply may not receive the instructions they need, resulting in the return visit to the doctor. Other factors may be intervening in the process as well, and researchers will be further investigating the relationship between medical caregivers’ spoken language and the hearing ability of patients in this higher likelihood to return to the hospital again.
On the other hand, those who have assistance for their hearing loss fare much better in a number of health outcomes. The Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA, recently published a study in the Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery division regarding those who wear hearing aids. This study found that when older adults wear their aids, they are less likely to be hospitalized or to visit the emergency room in the first place. What a remarkable finding! Though the effects on health may be hard to understand, and more questions need to be answered, this preliminary finding on the effect of hearing assistance on health is undeniable.
Perhaps those who had hearing assistance were less likely to injure themselves in the home due to a direct effect, or the relationship may have more to do with those who have hearing aids being able to find the right resources on their own to properly receive health care rather than going to the emergency room at all. More research is needed in this area, but the benefits of wearing hearing aids both at home and while visiting the doctor or hospital are clear.
Visit Us at Hearing Wellness Solutions
Hearing loss is most commonly treated with the use of hearing aids. If you have experienced changes in your hearing abilities, it is important to schedule a hearing test. At Hearing Wellness Solutions, we provide comprehensive hearing tests and hearing aid fittings. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.
