According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In 2019, 7.1% of adults aged 45 and over used a hearing aid.” If you’re among this number and you’re anticipating a hospital stay, below we review tips to help you manage your hearing aids while there.
Bring Your Carrying Case
Whenever your hearing aids are out of your ears, they should be in the protective carrying case they came in. Be sure to bring it to the hospital with you.
Consider the Placement
When your hearing aids are in their carrying case, put it somewhere safe. Never put it on your food tray, or you’ll risk it being taken away along with any discarded food and trash. Also, don’t put it in your pockets, or it could fall out or be accidentally thrown in the washing machine and damaged. Instead, put it in your backpack or suitcase.
Remove the Batteries When Not in Use
To prevent your batteries from dying, take them out of the hearing aids when you’re not using them. Keep the battery doors open as well to help moisture evaporate, which can also help with battery life.
Bring Spare Batteries
In a similar vein, you should buy back-up batteries so you’re not left unable to hear your health care providers when they come in to check on you or give care instructions.
Communicate with Your Medical Team
Make sure your medical team knows about your hearing loss and your hearing aids. This way, they’ll give you time to put your devices in before they start talking about anything important, and they’ll be able to communicate with you in a way that is most effective for your needs.
Enlist Help from Your Family
Your family is there to support you, so don’t be afraid to ask them for help, whether it’s running to the store for more batteries or just making sure someone else is aware of where your devices are located so you don’t forget and misplace them.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Advanced Hearing today.