Even if you have not had issues with your hearing when visiting the hospital in the past, you may find yourself experiencing new obstacles if you are admitted to a hospital right now, for any reason. I believe the most urgent concern is visitor restrictions—you will be on your OWN. Planning ahead now can make all the difference in an emergency situation.

Obstacles to expect:

INCREASED DIFFICULTY IN COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF:

• You will likely be alone with no companion to be your second set of ears
• Staff will be masked so unable to read lips & sounds may be muffled
• Staff may be 6 feet away whenever possible & your hearing devices are designed to hear communication within 3-5 feet, not 6 feet away
• Staff may be communicating with you behind a glass partition muffling sound
• Hospitals tend to be a noisy environment

INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF HEARING DEVICE LOSS

• hearing devices are often lost in ambulances
• if you are are in a hospital, you are likely not doing and feeling very well. You may lose the capacity to keep track of your hearing devices when not in use.

How to prepare:

CREATE YOUR OWN HEARING LOSS HOSPITAL EMERGENCY BAG:

What To Include:

• Communication Action Plan: Complete this document now and give this document to hospital staff.
• Equipment
• Extra hearing device & phone chargers
• Extra hearing device batteries
• Extra domes & wax filters
• Extension cord and power strip
• Backup hearing aids or implants (test to make sure they still work & you have the right size batteries for them)
• Hard Case Hearing Device Storage
• Be sure to add following label:
• “This hearing aid/cochlear implant belongs to:  Name:  Room#:
• Extra Hearing Device Retention
• This may include a headband, otoclips, corded Ear Gear, or Ear Suspenders. Consider using colorful retention options so they may be more easily found if they do come off your body.
• Signage
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind Medical Placard: Provide this to staff at check in
• Hard of Hearing Signage: To be placed on the wall over your bed. Fill in the blank line with your special needs. For example, I read lips, or I write.
• Communication Tip Cards: give to your physicians, nurses, and other staff
• International Hearing Loss Symbol: 2x2 to be placed in your chart, 4x4 to be placed on your door
• Quick thank you to my colleague Dr. Rachel Magann Faivre, AuD for providing these signs!
• Alternative Communication Methods
• paper and pen
• whiteboard with markers
• Your smartphone
• Not only can this device provide you entertainment & staying in touch with loved ones, it can also be used as an amplifier, closed captioning device, a way for doctors or nurses or hospital staff to text or call you to communicate and share information, voice to text AND a remote microphone!
• Prepared Updated Lists of the following:
• Current medications
• medical history
• surgical history
• Current doctors including your audiologist
• Emergency contacts - name and number
• Living will & power of attorney

DOWNLOAD & PRACTICE USING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN CASE YOU NEED IT

• Download a hearing amplifier to your phone such as EarMachine in the event your hearing devices are loss (this alternative will likely be too weak if you have severe to profound hearing loss but try it out at home and find out for yourself)
• Visit the Hearing Loss Association of America List of Technology Guide to determine which apps best meet your needs, download, and PRACTICE with them. Have a backup or alternative app ready too if at all possible. They have broken down resources based on preferred communication style:
• People who use Sign Language
• People who speak, listen, and/or use lip reading
• Additional limited resources are also listed for people who are Deaf Blind
• Make sure your hearing devices are synced to your smartphone (if compatible) and practice taking phone calls if you have not been using this feature in the past
• Make sure your hearing device apps have access to your location. In the event of loss, these apps may be able to “find your hearing device”
• Practice taking video calls with your family and friends until you feel comfortable doing so independently. A video call with a provider allows you access for face-to-face communication if they are in another room.

Self-Advocacy/Coordination of Care

WHEN RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS OR DISCHARGE PLANS

• ask when meetings will occur so you can have your emergency contact or loved one call in to also listen in on plans as your second set of ears.
• ask for written instructions and plans, in addition to verbal

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

Given current conditions, you may need to request accommodations that you have never needed before. Since you may have never needed them before, you may not know what to ask for or what is being offered to you. To ask for accommodations, request that the charge nurse get you in contact with the accessibility coordinator. if you feel you are being denied care because of your hearing loss, ask for an “Ethics consultation.” Below are a few common accommodations however many more exist than listed here. Please re-visit the  Hearing Loss Association of America List of Technology Guide or reach out to your audiologist directly for help if the accommodations outlined here do not meet your needs.

• Sign Language Interpreter
• Written instructions & Plans
• CART: Communication Access Real Time Translation
• Video Remote Interpreting
• Video Relay Service
• Speech to Text
• Typing Back
• Video Calls
• Texting

Final Note: Due to this disaster situation, hospitals are likely going to be overwhelmed and may simply be unable to accommodate your hearing loss. The staff is navigating a highly stressful situation & even simple requests have become much more difficult and complicated for them, be kind and patient but remain persistent to ensure your needs are met. Preparing yourself ahead a time ensures you have as many resources as possible to get through your stay.

Our goal in providing this resource is to keep you informed and you (and your hearing devices) safe.  Please feel free to share this with family, friends, neighbors, and healthcare providers you think may need this information right now. If you found this information helpful, please subscribe to stay informed and visit our Navigating COVID-19 with Hearing Loss Resource Guide for additional resources.

Stay well,

Dr. Julie