Hearing loss and doctor visits can cause issues or even be dangerous if you do not fully understand what is being asked or explained to you. Here are some tips to help.
I created a cartoon titled “The Hearing-impaired Elderly Patient.” In the cartoon, the elderly patient is out in public living it up with someone half his age His doctor happens to see him and questions his patient during his next doctor visit.
“I’m just doing what you said at my last physical.” the old man answered, “Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.”
The doctor responded in alarm, “No! I said that you have a heart murmur and be careful!”
Funny! However, in real life, it is not a laughing matter.
The cochlear implant surgery recovery
In recovery after surgery, I did not hear the nurse correctly when she asked if I wanted more pain medication. Instead of asking “what?” just said “yes” and hoped for the best. Well, that resulted in vomiting and extended my stay by two hours.
When home, I was sick off and on for two more days, due to too much pain medicine.
Laser eye procedure
Not correctly hearing what the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist says can be downright dangerous. Like when I had to have a minor laser procedure done on each eye. Realizing that if I did not hear the doctor correctly and moved while the laser was on, I could ruin my eyes. I cannot imagine being blind and hard of hearing, too. I reminded the doctor that I was hearing-impaired and would not be able to read her lips while staring at the glowing dot in the machine. I asked her to tell me all that will happen in the procedure. I suggested we figure out some method of communication besides speech. We decided on a tap on my head or shoulder. would suffice.
Pharmacy visits
Even though pharmacists tell me all about a prescription, I still read the label to make sure I hear correctly. Things like the number of doses or number of times a day to take a dosage. The numbers “1”, “9,” and “2” and “3” sound very similar to me. I don’t want to be taking nine doses when it is only supposed to be one!
Visits during the era of masks
Hearing is difficult enough WITHOUT lips being covered. For me, when lips are covered, the difficulty is triplly difficult unless I know the content of the discussion.
Every now and then, I get a well-meaning message from someone about masks with plastic over the lips so you can read them. It’s a great idea, indeed. But I need OTHERS wearing these masks. Not me. I’ve only seen one person wearing a mask that reveals the lips. It was a mom communicating with her deaf daughter.
It no longer helps to have another person accompany me during doctor visits. Most places don’t allow it for one thing. Furthermore, whoever accompanies me has to keep their mask on too! When visiting my oncologist in 2020, he typed his questions on the computer and showed them to me on the screen. That was GREAT. I would recommend you ask this of doctors and nurses if critical information is being asked or explained to you.
In conclusion
Hearing loss and doctor visits can be tricky – especially when everyone is wearing masks.
The only solution I can think of, which has worked for me, is people using the phone, tablet, or computer screen to type what they are saying. Yes, it is more work for the other person. The conversation takes more time. But it is better to be safe than sorry. Especially when it comes to matters of the physical body and health.
