Research shows that about 43% of patients over the age of 60 may be missing fundamental health information as a result of hearing loss. Major details, when it comes to health care, might be missed due to hearing loss.
There is a Worldwide Hearing Epidemic
Hearing loss is a big issue. Disabling hearing loss is an issue worldwide for around a third of individuals over 65.
But shockingly, if we look a little closer we discover that only 30% of those people who suffer from disabling hearing loss have taken measures to better their situation. When it comes to medical care, this isn’t good news.
With Medical Care – Communication is Essential
One of the leading causes of death is medical error and miscommunication is a leading cause of medical error. As many as 37% of severe injuries that were caused by medical errors, according to a Harvard study, wouldn’t have happened if communication had been better. An improved ability to communicate important information with patients could save lives.
How Medical Care is Impacted by Hearing Loss
When you are speaking with pharmacists, nurses, or doctors there is some information you won’t want to miss so let’s not linger on statistics.
Doctors and nurses work with you regarding specific health goals. Perhaps they’re explaining healthy insulin or blood pressure levels. They may tell you to abstain from certain foods to prevent spikes in these numbers that can do you harm. You could be missing important pieces of advice that would help you manage your condition.
These medical providers might explain danger zones that suggest that you need medical care. If you don’t understand completely what the doctor is saying, you may miss important warning signs and delay getting assistance.
Your pharmacist might try to warn you about harmful side effects or drug interactions. You could end up in the hospital or worse because you thought you heard all the information but you didn’t.
Perhaps you receive a warning against doing some dangerous activity from your physical therapist. You might suffer a serious fall because you missed that recommendation.
It’s Especially Challenging to Talk About Medical Information
Putting medical data in the proper context is especially challenging. When you miss something due to your hearing loss, you make use of context to attempt to fill in what you missed. Compensating for hearing loss is something your brain is in fact pretty good at. So good, as a matter of fact, that it could even convince you that you heard something you didn’t really hear.
With medical information something as small as a “don’t” or “not” can completely change the meaning of a sentence. A danger zone, goal, or dosage, could be
totally changed with one missed number.
The slightest detail matters when it comes to medical care. Missing them has been shown to lead to medical mistakes.
Having Your Hearing Loss Addressed
If you have hearing loss, you might be missing vital medical advice. Now is the time to take the correct steps to conserve your hearing.